Arsenal have held “initial talks with the representatives” of Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to The Mirror.
The France international is expected to leave the Ligue One side this summer, with the player having just a year left on his contract.
Fofana is a holding midfield player by trade and it’s likely that the Gunners are lining up a move for him if Thomas Partey leaves the Emirates.
Similar to Fofana, the Ghanaian is closing in on the final 12 months of his current deal and he could be offloaded if the right offer arrives.
No interested clubs have stepped forward yet though, and that may be why The Mirror reports that discussions with Fofana have not advanced beyond the preliminary stages.
How much would Arsenal have to pay for the midfielder?
Due to the short amount of time left on Fofana’s contract, it is believed that Monaco could let him go for as little as €20m (£17m).
Considering the Frenchman is still only 25 years of age and he is a regular starter for his country, that seems like a bargain price. It is not a surprise that Arsenal are pursuing him, when you take into account the club are working with limited financial resources this summer.
Does Fofana have other suitors?
Premier League rivals Manchester United and West Ham have been credited with an interest in the midfielder over the past twelve months. However, the most recent reports from France suggest that the Gunners’ main competitors will be Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Milan are said to be the biggest threat so, if Mikel Arteta’s side don’t step up their attempts to sign Fofana in the near future, there is a danger that they could miss out on his signature.
