Why Arsenal Have To Get Their Hands On £10m French Sensation

Former Arsenal striker, Jeremie Aliadiere has urged his former team to take the gamble on Lorient winger, Alexis Claude-Maurice.

The Gunners are strongly interested in the 21-year-old but competition from West Ham United and Olympique Lyon have prevented them from finalising a deal yet.

Claude-Maurice has been priced at £10m by the Ligue 2 outfit which Aliedere believes Arsenal should happily pay out.

“For the money that we talk about I think he’ll make it,” the ex-Gunner told football.london. “It’s about taking a gamble now when other teams aren’t prepared to. The market has gone so crazy in the last few years.

“If you want a top level international it’s nothing cheaper than £40m. If they’ve only got £45m to spend you’ve got to shop differently, go a bit younger and sign players from second divisions.

“He’s a good player and has really good qualities. At a club like Arsenal that gives chances to young players it would be a good step for him.”

“I remember incredible quick feet, a technical player,” the ex-France U21 striker continued. “Technically he was amazing.

“The only thing – he was young at the time – was making the right decision, passing when you need to pass.

“He was dribbling all the time when I was there. But he’s a very sharp, skillful player. He was taking the ball and dribbling past everybody. He had qualities and was a really good young player but he had a lot to learn.”