Arsenal met with officials from Bordeaux about the possible sale of Laurent Koscielny, according to reports in the French media. A meeting took place in London yesterday to discuss a potential transfer.

Bordeaux sporting director Eduardo Macia and board member Hugo Varela were said to be present to discuss the 33-year-old. Macia has spoken about the French club’s interest in the player in recent days:

“Of course, if the opportunity were there, we would love to have him come. He’s a leader, a smart defender and one of the best defenders I’ve seen in my career. It would be incredible to have a player of his quality in Bordeaux.”

Arsenal would like to sell Koscielny for €10m (£9m), but that figure is likely to be too high for Bordeaux. The Ligue One side are, though, said to be willing to pay a transfer fee which means a deal could be still in the offing.

The Frenchman had previously demanded to be released from his contract with the Gunners, but the London club won’t offload the player on a free transfer. Manager Unai Emery has said he has tried to persuade Koscielny into staying but to no avail:

“I am speaking regularly with him and I am trying to convince him to stay with us. But at the moment his first idea is still to leave and this situation is making us change our ideas about the centre-backs.”