Arsenal ‘make contact’ with Reims in transfer swoop for £13m wonderkid Axel Disasi
ARSENAL have reportedly ‘made contact’ with Reims in a transfer swoop for £13m wonderkid Axel Disasi.
The 22-year-old centre-back had been in scintillating form this season before the coronavirus crisis KO’d Ligue 1 indefinitely.
The Paris-born defender has commanded a regular place in the first team, making 27 Ligue 1 appearances for a side that has the best defence in the league with just 21 goals conceded this term.
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The youngster is rated at around £13million and is under contract with the French outfit until 2021.
A bid from the Gunners was reportedly rejected in January but it seems Mikel Arteta has retained an interest in the wonderkid, with signing a centre-back a priority for the Arsenal boss this summer.
According to Goal, Arsenal have now formally contacted the French side in a bid to land the defender, who looks certain to leave the Stade Auguste-Delaune at the end of the season.
Arsenal are already due to welcome centre-back William Saliba, who they signed from Saint-Etienne last year before loaning him back to the French side.
The 19-year-old is expected to slot straight into the Gunner’s starting XI next season after proving his potential in Ligue 1 – but that hasn’t dulled Arteta’s interest in signing Disasi to bolster the ranks at the back.
West Ham, Southampton, Monaco are also hot on the youngster’s tail while there are also clubs in the Bundesliga eyeing a move.
The Gunners have also been heavily linked with a swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.
The North London club are desperate to get a deal over the line and are said to want the 26-year-old so bad that they could offer Alexandre Lacazette in a bid to secure the Ghanaian’s signature.
It has been reported that the Gunners have a £43.5million offer on the table for the 26-year-old, who has become an influential player for Atletico under Diego Simeone.
Arteta’s side are also said to be “very close” to announcing the signing of PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa on a free transfer.
The Emirates boss is hunting a replacement for Scottish left-back Kieran Tierney who arrived in North London for £25million last summer but has been plagued with injuries this campaign.
Arteta has revealed how his scouting department are working non stop ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
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However the club has limited funds to spend this summer, particularly given the financial uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.
The North Londoners have been eyeing a move to bring Valencia hitman Rodrigo Moreno back to England as replacement for wantaway captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The La Liga ace has banged in five goals and registered 11 assists for the Spanish outfit this season.