Arsenal have made an enquiry for Rennes attacking midfielder Desire Doue, according to the Daily Mail.
Reports in the French media last week claimed that the Gunners were tracking the 18-year-old and the Mail have now confirmed that the London club are pursuing the player.
Doue is believed to have an extremely promising future ahead of him, with his teammates said to be blown away by his talent.
In terms of his performances on the pitch, he has yet to turn that potential into goals and assists, but he has established himself as a regular starter for Rennes over the last twelve months.
Manager Julien Stephan started Doue on 24 occasions last season, having been mostly selected as a left-winger.
How much would Doue cost?
The Mail report that Rennes want at least £35m upfront for the teenager but they will also demand substantial add-ons. There have been suggestions that the Ligue One side would like the total package to exceed the £56m they received from the sale of Jeremy Doku to Manchester City last year.
Whether Arsenal would be prepared to splash out that much, it is up for debate. Mikel Arteta’s side will have to cut their cloth accordingly to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Arsenal will face competition for the player
Doue is believed to be on the radar of a number of clubs. North London rivals Tottenham and Manchester United are reportedly the two other Premier League teams interested in signing the midfielder.
However, there are plenty of clubs on the continent keen on securing the Frenchman’s services as well, including Paris Saint-Germain, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and fellow German sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. A lot may depend on who is prepared to meet Rennes’ asking price.
