Arsenal have been handed a significant boost in the transfer market following reports that a prized target of Unai Emery’s side has handed in a transfer request while on international duty at the World Cup.
The Sun cites reports that indicate France international Steven N’Zonzi has got his father to hand a transfer request in to Sevilla indicating his desire to complete a transfer to a ‘big club’ in this summer’s transfer window.
N’Zonzi is a long-term target of Arsenal’s and Emery knows him well due to his time with Sevilla, although the Gunners may now have alternative targets in the transfer window.
Arsenal are widely reported to be set to sign Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria and remain interested in N’Zonzi’s Sevilla team-mate Ever Banega, while Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka have recently signed long-term contracts at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners remain in negotiations to extend the deal of Aaron Ramsey, who Emery sees as a crucial part of the side, and it may mean that there is not room for N’Zonzi to arrive alongside Arsenal’s other targets.
In the tournament thus far, N’Zonzi came on in the dying moments against Peru and started the final group game against Denmark, but is unlikely to feature in the quarter final on Friday, which sees France as evens in the World Cup betting odds to win in normal time against Uruguay.
