Arsenal and Tottenham Retain Hope of Signing French Defender In January

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been boosted in their pursuit of additional defensive resources after Sochaux's Sebastien Corchia admitted he could yet leave in the January transfer window.

The 22 year old was linked with a switch to the Premier League in the summer but was unable to force through a move after Sochaux failed to complete a deal for Anthony Reveillere.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham have been credited with an interest and Corchia remains hopeful he could yet leave the Ligue 1 outfit in the winter.

"I know what I have to do now during matches and I will see what happens in the next window," the right-back said. "But at the moment, I want to work with my club.

"[Leaving in the winter] can be a possibility, Sochaux negotiate with interested clubs. I prefer to focus on the present at the moment."

The right side of defence has proved to be a problem position for both Arsenal and Tottenham in recent seasons.

Bacary Sagna is the first choice full-back at Arsenal but having broken his leg twice in recent years, questions remain over his long-term fitness while with less than a year to run on his current contract, the French international appears likely to leave north London next summer.

The Gunners have Carl Jenkinson, who started 14 times in the Premier League last season, in reserve but few options remain thereafter and Arsene Wenger may be keen to shore up the position in the coming months.

Tottenham's first choice full-back Kyle Walker was a near ever-present for the club last season, making 36 league starts last term but bar Kyle Naughton, who has often looked susceptible in the area, Spurs have few other options.

Andre Villas-Boas did oversee the defensive addition of Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest while Danny Rose has returned from a season-long loan spell at Sunderland, but the Portuguese boss could soon be forced into adding further to Tottenham's defensive resources.