Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement with Sevilla for the services of French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, El Gol Digital claims.
The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Andalusian club since their 3-3 Champions League versus Liverpool, where he was substituted at the half-time break.
Since then, the France international has been forced to train aside from his fellow teammates with manager Eduardo Berizzo not regarding him as part of his plans for the current campaign.
According to El Gol, the north London giants are deemed to have finalized an offer for N’Zonzi which could see him return to the top-flight after a two-year absence.
The former Stoke City midfielder has only recently snubbed the talk of joining the Gunners, but the report suggests that the club will part with an initial £32.7m with the remaining £2.6m settled in form of add-ons.
However, the overall package still falls below N’Zonzi’s £38m release clause, and there has not been any announcement from any side whatsoever regarding a proposed transfer in the New Year.
Arsenal’s midfield has been a weak point during the early phase of the current campaign with Granit Xhaka in particular tending to mistime his passes which have cost the club in terms of goals. More so, the midfield has not possessed a commanding influence to intercept play, though Francis Coquelin performed the role to good effect between 2015 and 2016.
N’Zonzi has turned into a much-improved player during his time in La Liga, where he has improved on his passing and aerial duels, and he could seamlessly fit into the Gunners’ midfield with his prior experience in the top-flight.
The 28-year-old has previously featured in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, making nearly 200 appearances in seven seasons. He only recently made his national team debut with France, and regular first-team football is likely to have a bearing on his chances of making next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.
