Southampton and Newcastle United have joined the increasing list of suitors for Senegal international Henri Saivet.
In December, the Mirror [via the International Business Times] reported that both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were keen on the Girondins de Bordeaux star, and were set to battle it out for the midfielder during the January transfer window.
The two EPL heavyweights were understood to have sent scouts to watch the West African, with the tabloid noting that a reasonable fee of around £3.5 million would be enough to bring the versatile player to London.
However, while the International Business Times reported that Everton, Aston Villa, Swansea City and Bournemouth were all also keen on the 25-year-old, two more EPL sides have now joined the hunt.
The Daily Star report that Newcastle are keen to add the former France U21 international to their burgeoning Francophone contingent, although the report notes that the player himself prefers a move to the south coast, meaning that Southampton may be better placed to get their man.
Saivet made his name as an attacking player during his formative years, but a litany of injuries prompted him to reconfigure his style of play and he now thrives as an energetic box-to-box midfielder.
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This may make him a particularly useful addition for Arsenal, who risk being light in the heart of the park following the injury suffered by anchorman Francis Coquelin.