Arsenal are ready to beat Norwich City with a surprise move for Lorient forward Alexis Claude-Maurice.
Gunners scouts have been keeping tabs on the young forward, making regular checks on a player who has shone in the second tier of French football this term.
Claude-Maurice, 20, is rated as one of the best youngsters in his homeland, and is a France Under-20 international.
He has largely played out wide for his club side, but some judges believe that, long term, his position will be through the middle.
Norwich transfer chiefs have been also monitoring his progress and, after securing promotion to the Premier League, were ready to sanction a £9million move.
Sporting director Stuart Webber and coach Daniel Farke had earmarked him as a player who could make an impact on the Canaries' top flight return.
But they now face being beaten to the punch by the Gunners, who are operating on a tight budget this summer and know they must be smart in the market.
However, the pair also face competition from Ligue 1, with Lille eyeing him as a replacement for Nicolas Pepe - the forward who has been watched by Arsenal , Manchester United , Liverpool and Bayern Munich - and Monaco also.
Claude-Maurice fits in Arsenal's budget and also would offer them backup to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
The Gunners are light in attack, with Danny Welbeck set to leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
The North London club have also been linked with a £10million move for Argentina defender Walter Kannemann.
samanmostafaei
1
arsenal should buy Ismaeil Sarr
Leiman
0
you have to go an fine professional player but you are managed with smallest player, how can you get cup
khiladisuman
0
next season
[image]
pepe not coming alaba not coming rabiot not coming herrera not coming umtiti not coming now??😂😂
Newman2020
0
the boards are the major problem of Arsenal, imagine giving a new coach 40m to enforce the team and we are looking for a miracle, I'm sure people will now reason what the legend arsen has been facing for long time
So is now that you understand the system
JboyIxHere
1
the boards are the major problem of Arsenal, imagine giving a new coach 40m to enforce the team and we are looking for a miracle, I'm sure people will now reason what the legend arsen has been facing for long time
Yeddnprtyz
1
next season
Yudabdelo
3
We want to win the premier league this coming season emary
hacailmpry
0
Did i hear you say 20years old? a back up to Laca and Auba? what a waste of resources which is limited at the moment, we already have the likes of Nketiah, Nelson and Saka waiting for their first team opportunities with a lot of potentials
i also think the same...nketia and nelson can be used as explosive wingers...then we just concentrate on defense and one strong midfielder to replace Ramsey....
Cammsey
2
we need explosive wingers (2) defensive midfielder and defenders (2)
STIGGOONER
0
Guendouzi’s teammate [Sadtolook]
Wuwdelnpsz
3
Unless he is better than Reiss otherwise I don’t see the point.
Kacdekmr
0
we are contented with our center forward. what Auba and Lacazzett need is surport from wingers and attacking mid fielders and maybe deffenders which can help these two go forward with less problem thinking to track back and maybe deffenders with great vision whom when they lift their head up can drop the ball forward from the back into the feet of one of this guys so that when a team like liverpool come up with their high pressing just drop and live the ress ti does guys. so better use that money and do what i say.
well spoken
Kalawa1
4
Did i hear you say 20years old? a back up to Laca and Auba? what a waste of resources which is limited at the moment, we already have the likes of Nketiah, Nelson and Saka waiting for their first team opportunities with a lot of potentials
Flo34
0
we don't know, let's wait and see
sakenoryz
4
we are contented with our center forward. what Auba and Lacazzett need is surport from wingers and attacking mid fielders and maybe deffenders which can help these two go forward with less problem thinking to track back and maybe deffenders with great vision whom when they lift their head up can drop the ball forward from the back into the feet of one of this guys so that when a team like liverpool come up with their high pressing just drop and live the ress ti does guys. so better use that money and do what i say.
konadeikp
0
pls be like man city change a bit pls arsenal
Pozcistuy
0
He's not good enough we need strong D
Tuedeltz
2
arsenal is joking arsenal hv no money:-SS arsenal 1 to dayz only God knows
fackotz
4
dont sell ours strikers to other teams ..the problem is at ours defence ..midfield and winger only ..
Mieiklnprt
2
we have enough young talents already. BUY GOOD ESTABLISHED WINGERS NOT UPCOMING CRAP !!
huoopstu
3
But we have lots of young lads (players), why not give one of those boys chance to show their talent
fuhdeimt
1
Arsenal and players called "Alexis",better love story then Twilight😂😂
wosekprt
1
Up gunners
Juubdeltu
2
Arsenal should buy j.tah
Ziyknrz
1
these club have started again
Gunner San
2
Replacing an Alex Oxlade-Chamberline with a Alex Claude-Maurice 😂
Akechandy
3
Please Emery just one deadly attacker to these guys and the rest will be history.
davidlungu
1
if we get a winger (Zaha or Ziyech or even fekir) and a very strong centre back . we'd be
koyabdilnz
2
this team of business men
Vikram95
2
well the last player we got from that club was Guendouzi and prior to him Koscielny seems like we have a connection with that club and hopefully he signs for us and does well
gadgets
1
Another Guendouzi??? I hope he takes serious on the game!
Ramcikmrsy
0
ARSENAL has no choice but to act smart in the transfer market..... look for fresh young talent or " un polished diamond " that can be worked on in a short time as the case with Guendouz and Toreira, however there's need to be very cautious when picking a Central defender..we can't afford to pick on " DAY OLD " chicks as the current defence is in a bad shape...
if we get a winger (Zaha or Ziyech or even fekir) and a very strong centre back . we'd be
GAmuzu
1
Always moving for youngsters. I thought with Wenger’s departure, we would hear that no more.
davidlungu
3
ARSENAL has no choice but to act smart in the transfer market..... look for fresh young talent or " un polished diamond " that can be worked on in a short time as the case with Guendouz and Toreira, however there's need to be very cautious when picking a Central defender..we can't afford to pick on " DAY OLD " chicks as the current defence is in a bad shape...
Luc-Hln
3
Mustafi, lichtsteiner, Iwobi out Manolas, zyiech, and a left back in
VNug
6
you know this guy has all the names to be a star, Alexis.... Claude...and ..... Maurice
Yeecloyz
0
I don't understand the problem of Arsenal, team needs players to deliver not potential
and always they bring players from France
Issa99
4
I don't understand the problem of Arsenal, team needs players to deliver not potential
Arsenal-Femskillz
3
Pls bring in this young star
Ajayiololade
4
the headline should be like Arsenal ready to move for another piano player (Alexis) to sell for man utd[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
pineasmp
3
come on you gunners