Gunners keen to snap up exciting young striker.
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Arsenal could be set to make a move to sign AC Milan youngster M’Baye Niang on a season-long loan, according to reports in Italy.
The Gunners are keen on bringing in a new centre-forward before the end of the summer after losing Olivier Giroud to a lengthy injury lay-off, and have supposedly been alerted by Niang’s desire to leave the San Siro.
The 19-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in French football, has struggled for regular first-team action since moving to Milan from Caen in 2012, and is now interested in making the move elsewhere for the 2014/15 season.
Having also gone out on loan to Ligue 1 side Montpellier last season, Niang may be available again after Milan opted to sign Fernando Torres from Chelsea as a replacement for Liverpool’s new signing Mario Balotelli.
Niang himself has often been compared to Balotelli, but he does not look like being given the chance in Filippo Inzaghi’s side this term after the two-year loan deal to bring Torres to the club, and the player now wants permission to hold talks over a possible move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have been linked with the Frenchman in the past, while the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have also shown some interest in his talents.
Arsene Wenger could make it a double raid on Serie A in the coming days, with Torino forward Alessio Cerci also believed to be firmly up there among his top targets, though the temptation to bring in a player on loan instead may mean Niang is now his priority to come in upfront.
Another of France’s top young talents, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, has also been linked with the north London giants this summer and could be close to finalising a move to the club.
Niang scored five goals in 22 appearances whilst on loan at Montpellier last season, but only has one solitary strike for Milan in 33 appearances for the Italian giants, though many of those have been from the bench.
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Fernando Torres Milan