Arsenal endured an underwhelming season as they failed to win any silverware in Arsene Wenger’s final campaign. They finished 6th in the Premier League and will miss the Champions League next season.
Unai Emery has been appointed as the new manager of the Gunners and is charged with the task of returning the club to the European elite while challenging for major honours.
The Spaniard has targeted a defensive midfielder ahead of the next season. Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere were released by the club after their contracts expired leaving them short in that area.
The lack of a natural screening presence behind Granit Xhaka or Aaron Ramsey has often seemed to unbalance the team in recent seasons. The club are reportedly close to signing of Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira but have also been linked with a move for Sevilla ace Steven N’Zozni.
The midfielder joined the Spanish side from Stoke City for a fee around the region of £7 million on a four-year contract in 2015. He has been a mainstay at the club since then and won the Europa League against Liverpool on his debut season.
The France International was close to leaving last season but decided to stay. He signed a new contract extension and a £35 million buy-out clause was inserted in his contract. He was a regular for the club last term, making 42 appearances in all competitions.
But the La Liga giants have been frustrated with the 29 year old’s antics and have told him that he is free to leave if is buy-out clause is meet.
N’Zozni wants to leave Sevilla for a return to the Premier League, with a reunion with Emery at Arsenal his preferred choice, reports the Sun .
The Premier League giants have already secured the signings of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen, Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus and Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
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