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‘I’m not surprised’: Director reacts as Wolves and Arsenal reportedly target £20m ace

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Hammarby sporting director Jesper Jansson is not surprised to see Odilon Kossounou emerge as a target for Premier League giants Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as he told Fotbolskanalen.

Whatever happens next summer, Hammarby can be proud of the role they played in Kossounou’s development.

The Ivory Coast international spent six short but impressive months in Sweden before joining Club Brugge in July 2019.

Two years on, Kossounou now finds himself on the shopping list of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The Mirror reports that Arsenal are big fans of the 20-year-old central defender and have received glowing references from Emmanuel Eboue and Gervinho – two former Arsenal players who also hail from the Côte d’Ivoire.

The Sun, meanwhile, claims that Inter, Milan and Wolves are also interested in the 6ft 2ins Kossonou.

Not that Jansson is shocked to see a former Hammarby gem turn into a diamond at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

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“It is very fun for him and then it is a credit to us in Hammarby,” the sporting director said.

“No, I’m not surprised (about the transfer links) because I followed him when he was here. “We have followed him down in Belgium and his progress at Club Brugge.”

It remains to be seen how much the 2020 Jupiler League champions want for Kossounou, though Jansson believes Brugge will demand far more than £13 million.

“I do not think (£13 million) will be enough,” Jansson added.

The Sun believes that a fee in the region of £20 million could do the trick.

Bendegúz Bolla
A general view of Molineux Stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Espanyol Barcelona at Molineux on February 20, 2020 in… (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)