Mikel Arteta revealed on Wednesday that he hadn’t forgotten about Arsenal loan duo Konstantinos Mavropanos and William Saliba.
Both central defenders are impressing out on loan with Stuttgart and Nice respectively and the Gunners boss confirmed that the pair’s form was being closely monitored, ahead of their summer return.
But it remains to be seen whether either has a long-term future at Arsenal after being deemed surplus to requirements by Arteta and Edu.
And speculation will only increase on the back of what The Standard is reporting this morning.
Arsenal are apparently one of the clubs interested in signing towering 6’4 Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
The 21-year-old French powerhouse has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young defenders and the North Londoners could throw their hat in the ring this summer, The Standard has reported.
The Emirates Stadium side were also linked in November but the trail went cold and nothing happened with regards to a January move.
According to The Daily Mail, Konate has a £45 million release clause in his contract with the Bundesliga giants and should a deal go through for that price, he would represent the club’s most expensive defender of all time.
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