ARSENAL have stepped up their interest in Lyon’s France international winger Nabil Fekir.
The 24-year-old is enjoying a superb campaign for his Ligue 1 club, scoring 22 goals in 37 games.
Rated at £50million, Lyon-born Fekir is in line to be part of France’s World Cup squad this summer.
Fekir has won ten caps for Les Bleus, scoring once. He can operate on the right wing or as an attacking midfielder, as well as up front.
The club academy product, under contract until 2020, has been on the Gunners‘ radar for the past three years.
And Emirates spies checked on him once again on April 20, when he scored in Lyon’s 5-2 win at league rivals Dijon.
AFP
Fekir’s advisor said earlier this year that the player hoped to join one of Europe’s top ten clubs in the near future.
Even though Arsene Wenger is ending his 22-year stay as Arsenal boss this summer, senior figures within the club hierarchy are understood to want the Lyon ace’s signature.
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Fekir’s form has helped Lyon to second in Ligue 1, albeit 19 points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
But the Stade Gerland club could yet miss out on a Champions League place, with Monaco and Marseille just one and two points respectively behind them.
EMMANUEL FOUDROT
That would tempt them to cash in on Fekir – just a year after selling Alexandre Lacazette to the Gunners for £52m.
Lacazette, 26, is also a local-born Lyon academy product and France international.
Arsenal will face Marseille or Salzburg in the Europa League final if they see off Atletico Madrid in Thursday’s second leg. The teams are level at 1-1.
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