- Player in London for medical as Arsenal close-in on second January signing
- Confirmed line-ups: Southampton vs Arsenal: Martinelli & Gabriel start
- Fabrizio Romano posts quotes confirming 22-year-old star has agreed to join Arsenal
- [Photos] 28-year-old star poses in Arsenal shirt after Gunners confirm new signing
- Arsenal on verge of signing 22-year-old star after Edu negotiates deal
- Arsenal team news update: Duo could miss FA Cup clash with Southampton
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Newcastle: Tierney and Partey start
- [Image] Key trio return, no Xhaka or Lacazette: My Arsenal line-up vs Newcastle
- Arsenal boss confirms fresh injury blow + Tierney update
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Tierney out, Partey on the bench
Arsenal facing battle to sign £30m Senegal international – report
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal will not only have to fend off interest from Chelsea but will now face fresh competition from Everton for the signature of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Arsene Wenger is believed to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer as neither Per Mertesacker or Gabriel have shown they are capable of being the reliable partner we need for Laurent Koscielny.
Koulibaly has emerged as a key target in recent weeks with Mirror reporting earlier this month that Arsenal were battling-it-out with Chelsea to secure a deal for the £30m-rated centre-back.
However, it appears we’ll now also have to fend off interest from Everton as the Daily Mail claim that the Toffees have now made contact with Napoli to express their interest as Ronald Koeman looks to spend some of their newly-found wealth.
The Dutchman has a sizeable transfer kitty at his disposal after Everton were bought out by a billionaire businessman and now the Merseysiders could drive Koulibaly’s price-tag up even further.
We all know Arsene doesn’t like to engage in bidding wars so if that becomes the case, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see us back off and look at other [cheaper] targets.
That would be a shame to miss out as Koulibaly is a huge talent and was a key force in helping Napoli finish second in Serie A last season, and the powerful, pacey centre-back should have no trouble adapting to life in England.
MORE: Arsenal table bid for Barcelona attacker
I’d love to see us sign the 25-year-old Senegal international this summer but that could depend largely on how much the likes of Chelsea and Everton are willing to pay for the player.
Pingback: Arsenal lining-up £42.6m + player deal for record-breaking striker | Arsenal Station | Arsenal FC News