Arsenal eye 26-y/o French defender, Martin Odegaard is a big fan

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Arsenal are reportedly interested in Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand, with the Gunners one of several English clubs keeping tabs on the 26-year-old Frenchman.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the north London side have the La Liga centre-back on the radar, with Mikel Arteta and club captain Martin Odegaard both big fans of Le Normand, who played with the Norwegian international during a loan spell at Sociedad.

Le Normand has been one of the Basque giants’ best players this season amid what could potentially be a historic year for Sociedad, with Imanol Alguacil’s side on the cusp of a top-four finish a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2013.

As per the report, though, Sociedad are unlikely to let Le Normand leave without a club paying his €60m (£53m) release clause, a fee Arsenal could be hesitant to match the defender’s exit fee given his age and how unlikely it is that the Frenchman will replace the Gunners’ first-choice centre-back options.

Indeed, Le Normand’s performances have been catching this season, so much so that the Spanish FA are hopeful that the defender will soon qualify for Spanish citizenship in order to qualify for selection for La Roja. And for Arsenal, they’ve clearly been impressed with what they have seen.

Whilst central defence is hardly Arteta’s priority this summer, Le Normand’s displays have seemingly made him a target for Arsenal. Yet at £53m, the north London side know that there are cheaper and younger options out there in the market that could be more realistic.

Arsenal should only consider Le Normand as a last-chance option

Le Normand is no doubt a quality defender, with the Sociedad star a key clog in the Txuri-Urdinak’s incredible campaign that could result in a Champions League finish. Yet for Arsenal, the centre-back should be considered a summer target as a last-chance option.

Whilst the defender would be a clear upgrade on the likes of Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior, £53m is too steep a price to pay for a centre-back who will likely be only a backup for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, who are only going to get better each year given their ages.