Arsenal are preparing a £10m bid to sign Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue this summer, according to the Express. The 24-year-old has been in impressive form for the Ligue 1 outfit, scoring seven goals and managing three assists from 29 league appearances this season.

Etienne Capoue
Reuters

The Gunners were keen on landing the French international in January. However, the deal did not materialise as the north London club failed to land their man. The player's representative Mino Raiola had revealed interests from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during the winter transfer window.

Capoue is considered as an ideal replacement for Alex Song, who completed a move to Barcelona last summer. Arsenal have the services of Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby in the holding midfield position. However, the latter has long been battling with injuries, which has restricted his role on the field.

Arsene Wenger has now set his eyes on bringing the French international to the Emirates. Capoue had earlier hinted a move to England could still be on the cards at the end of the season. The holding midfielder admitted he could likely make a move away from Toulouse and claimed he is looking for a bigger challenge abroad.

"At the end of the season, I will sit with my club and we will decide. I am 24 years old now and if there is an interesting opportunity abroad, I want to take that challenge. I think I am ready to handle it, I am the right age but ultimately Toulouse will have a big say. The interest from English teams is there, so let's wait and see at the end of the season," Capoue told Sky Sports.

Should Arsenal fail to land the Ligue 1 star at the end of the season, Wenger can concentrate on other alternate targets, such as Victor Wanyama of Celtic. The Express report claims the north London club are monitoring the Kenyan international, along with Capoue's compatriot Maxime Gonalons of Lyon and Newcastle's Cheick Tiote.

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