‘I don’t feel’: Director responds to reported Arsenal and Aston Villa interest in £13m star

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Cheick Doucoure has not expressed a desire to leave RC Lens despite reported interest from Premier League sides Arsenal and Aston Villa, the Ligue 1 club’s managing director told France Bleu. 

After marking their return to the top flight of French football with an unexpected seventh-place finish, the vultures appear to have taken up residence in the rafters of the Bollaert-Delelis Stadium. 

Loic Bade, a brilliant young centre-half many have labelled the second coming of Raphael Varane, has already been spirited away by Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.

With just over two weeks of the transfer window remaining, Lens are facing a battle as they look to retain the services of Facundo Medina, Seko Fofana, highly-rated right-back Jonathan Clauss and the tough-tackling Doucoure. 

Is Cheick Doucoure heading to Arsenal or Aston Villa?

As reported by Goal France, Aston Villa have held talks with Doucoure over the last couple of weeks.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have identified the Mali international as a potential addition to Mikel Arteta’s engine room following another injury to Thomas Partey. 

But, according to managing director Arnaud Pouille, Doucoure has shown little interest in leaving RC Lens before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.

“If there are offers which respect the interests of everyone and in particular of RC Lens, we will ask ourselves (whether or not we should sell),” explains Pouille.

“I do not feel in these four players (Doucoure, Clauss, Medina and Fofana) a desire to leave.

“Most of the group had a good season last year but they still miss the supporters and the emotions, which is why they came to us for the most part.”

Doucoure, valued at £13 million, is a disciplined, diligent, defensively-minded midfielder; one who averages more successful tackles per game than John McGinn, Granit Xhaka, Douglas Luiz and Partey himself. 

But will the 21-year-old stay for one more season at Lens? The academy graduate did not play a single game in front of the club’s fans last season and he would surely prefer to say a proper goodbye.