Report: Bordeaux interested in Arsenal’s Koscielny
According to L’Equipe, Bordeaux are interested in signing Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny this summer. The Ligue 1 club are targeting the veteran centre-back as a replacement for the Sevilla-bound Jules Kounde.
The Gunners are said to want €10 million (£8.9 million) for the 33-year-old. However, the Arsenal club captain will apparently push for the north London club to release him from his current contract a year early.
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Koscielny first arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Lorient in 2010. Since then, the Frenchman has gone on to establish himself as one of Arsenal’s most reliable players. However, in recent seasons, persistent chronic achilles injuries have curtailed his game time and ability to feature regularly in the Premier League.
Koscielny now appears ready to leave north London behind and return to France. However, Unai Emery cannot afford to let the 51-cap former France international leave the club for free. The Gunners are already low on cash and need every penny they can get. What’s more, despite his fitness issues, Koscielny was still one of Arsenal’s best defenders last season. If the north London outfit are to let him leave, it must be for a fee that could help fund the acquisition of a replacement.
