Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Mario Lemina and Franck Kessie

Juventus could sell reported Arsenal and Leicester City transfer target Mario Lemina to fund a move for a new midfielder, with Atalanta starlet Franck Kessie an option for the club.

As reported by Nicola Balice and Edo Dalmonte of Calciomercato, Lemina has lost his position in the Bianconeri starting XI, despite the team's ongoing injury crisis and the issues Juventus have had in the centre of the park.

The Old Lady has been linked with a host of other midfielders, and Alfredo Pedulla (h/t Calciomercato's Lorenzo Bettoni) reported Kessie has already agreed to a move to Juventus, snubbing Arsenal and Chelsea in the process.

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Juventus will likely have to move some players in order to facilitate the transfer, however, and while the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah sit even lower in the pecking order than Lemina right now, the Gabon international's recent slide and high value make him a solid candidate as well.

Lemina started the season as an automatic starter and the replacement for Paul Pogba, with Juventus fighting off the Gunners and Leicester to make his loan deal permanent.

He had shown flashes of his ability in the 2015-16 season, despite dealing with injury, as you can see in the video below:

The 23-year-old started the season well, but he hasn't featured much since his sending off against Lyon in the UEFA Champions League. Claudio Marchisio was always going to get a starting position on his return from injury, but Hernanes has also played more minutes than Lemina.

In that match against Lyon, reported Juventus target Corentin Tolisso made a solid impression, and per the report, Lemina could be used as a bargaining chip to lower the French club's asking price for their midfield star.

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Kessie seems a more likely option, however, although Pedulla expects him to spend the rest of the season with Atalanta, even if he completes his transfer move in January. The Ivory Coast international has enjoyed a sensational start to the 2016-17 season, and Atalanta have thrived with him pulling the strings in midfield.

As shared by Squawka Football, the 19-year-old central midfielder knows how to find the goal:

Kessie is frequently compared to compatriot Yaya Toure, and it's easy to see why. The Atalanta man already has remarkable power, and he uses his strong body well to shield the ball and win tackles and duels in midfield.

He also has a keen eye for a pass, knows how to time his runs into the box and has shown his ability to perform under pressure, netting clutch penalties for Atalanta.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

The arrival of Kessie and one more midfielder would solidify the position for Juventus, who also have several top talents waiting for their chance to play in the first team, like Rolando Mandragora and Grigoris Kastanos. They also still have an option on Boca Juniors' Rodrigo Bentancur, one they're expected to use, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia).

With so many good midfielders seemingly ready to make an impact in the near future, the sale of Lemina would make a lot of sense. Juventus spent just under £10 million to make his loan deal permanent last summer, and the Gabonese still holds plenty of value.

Arsenal added a powerful midfielder in Granit Xhaka during the summer, but the Gunners could use another true box-to-box performer, and Lemina would certainly fit the bill. Leicester are desperate to replace N'Golo Kante's range in midfield, and they need to spend money in January.