Arsenal have “identified” Lens pair Cheick Doucoure and Seko Fofana as alternate options to Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to the Daily Mail.
Fofana was linked with the Gunners in the French press last week and the Mail have now confirmed that Mikel Arteta’s side are “keeping tabs” on the former Udinese player.
The club’s interest in Doucoure is also not an entirely new development either, with Arsenal having been mentioned as a potential suitor for the Malian international back in May, along with Brighton, Crystal Palace and Everton.
Out of two, Doucoure is believed to be the cheapest, with it being claimed that Lens would only demand around €20m (£17m) for the 22-year-old.
Fofana, on the other hand, could reportedly fetch around €40m (£34m), with the Ivorian also being pursued by the likes of Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Mail claim that signing a midfielder is not a priority for Arsenal at the moment, with the Gunners expected to pursue Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez once they wrap up a deal for Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.