Arsenal Cleared To Sign £6m-Rated Senegal Defender But Chelsea Also Keen

Although the summer transfer window is officially closed that doesn’t stop clubs working hard behind the scenes to prepare for future signings, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest gossip. Today, Arsenal and Chelsea are linked with Cheikhou Kouyate.

Arsenal have been given the all-clear to sign Cheikhou Kouyate this winter after Anderlecht admitted they will sell the defender but Chelsea are also thought to be interested, according to the Metro.

The report claims that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been chasing Kouyate for almost two years and has failed with attempts to sign him during recent transfer windows.

However, it appears the Frenchman may have more luck this time around with Anderlecht boss Herman Van Holsbeeck confirming there is interest from the Premier League in the 23-year-old and admitted the club will sell if a suitable offer comes in.

‘We expect to keep our star players, but Kouyate could leave ’

‘We know there is interest in him in the Premier League. If a suitable offer arrives he can leave.’ Van Holsbeeck is quoted as saying by the Metro.

Arsenal have started the season in excellent fashion but with uncertainty surrounding the future of Thomas Vermaelen – who’s fallen out-of-favour at the Emirates this season – the Metro suggest that Wenger will move for another centre-back when the transfer window re-opens in January and £6m-rated Kouyate is his key target.

However, the north Londoners may not have a free run at the 6ft 4″ defender with the newspaper stating that Chelsea have also been credited with interest in the player, with Jose Mourinho seemingly looking for a long-term replacement for John Terry, and the Blues may therefore rival Arsenal for Kouyate’s signature.

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