Arsenal are reportedly keeping tabs on the situation of Nice midfielder Jean-Michel Seri with a view to a late approach for his services this summer. The Ivory Coast international is also an option for north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are still searching for their first signing of the summer transfer window.
According to ESPN, Arsene Wenger’s side have Seri as one of their top targets for the summer, but a move could be dependent on Nice’s participation in the Champions League.
The French outfit are currently tied at 1-1 with Ajax in the Champions League third qualifying round, and the failure to make the competition’s proper tonight could push Seri for a fresh challenge.
Seri was scouted by the Gunners on several occasions over the past year, and he is being seen as a potential replacement for Santi Cazorla, who has struggled with an Achilles problem in the past 24 months.
The Ivorian is capable of contributing on either side of the playing field, but it was his forward play which improved last term with seven goals and nine assists in Nice’s Ligue 1 campaign.
Arsenal have been pursuing AS Monaco’s Thomas Lemar since early July, but Seri could be a late addition to the squad, although Nice are holding out for his £36m release clause.
This valuation had proved a stumbling block for Italian giants AS Roma earlier this summer after they decided to end their interest despite verbally agreeing terms with the midfielder.
Arsenal are well equipped in the centre of the park with the likes of Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere to provide backup to Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka, but Wenger still appears in the market for an all-action midfielder, who could turn the club into genuine title challengers.
