Arsenal Transfer News: Ousmane Dembele Battle, Latest N'Golo Kante Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly in the hunt for Rennes sensation Ousmane Dembele, although they can expect to face stiff competition from Barcelona if they’re to get a deal over the line.

Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror writes that Arsenal have been "bowled over" by Dembele and are "ready to fight" in order to bring him to the Emirates Stadium. However, strong interest from the European champions is noted, with suggestions that sporting director Robert Fernandez has already been to cast an eye on the French youth international.

"Arsenal have been long aware of the youth international’s talent, but have reportedly been so impressed by the teenager’s first-team impact that Arsene Wenger’s network of French contacts have recommended that chief scout Steve Rowley makes the trip across the channel to see Dembele first-hand," adds Malyon.

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The 18-year-old attacker has shot to prominence this term with a string of incredible displays, most recently a hat-trick against Nantes in Ligue 1 at the weekend. Here are some of the best moments from his breakthrough season:

Arsenal are a club that always seem to be in for the top young footballers in European football, and the Rennes man is a player who is undeniably befitting of that kind of moniker. Dembele plays the game with a brashness that is rare in players of his tender years, and while his displays can be capricious, that he’s already finding the back of the net regularly is a major plus point.

As these statistics, courtesy of OptaJean show, no player in his age bracket has been as prolific as Dembele this term:

It’s clear Dembele is a huge talent and a very exciting prospect. With a clutch of elite clubs looking at him, according to Malyon, Arsenal would do well to get the youngster, especially at the expense of a side as alluring as Barcelona. Still, the Emirates Stadium would surely yield more first-team chances than the Camp Nou.

That’s what Dembele needs at this juncture, as he seeks to shape what are still malleable attributes. Manager Arsene Wenger has always shown a willingness to hand young players chances, too, meaning it wouldn’t be too fanciful to think Dembele could possibly end up in Arsenal colours next season.

Leicester City to Offer N'Golo Kante New Contract

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One player who looks less likely to end up at Arsenal is N’Golo Kante, with Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror reporting Leicester City are to offer him a new deal.

The midfield dynamo has been awesome in his debut Premier League season, bringing a myriad of attributes to the nucleus of a Foxes side who have surprisingly stormed to the top of the Premier League. 

The Gunners, according to Lewis, have been attracted by the nature of Kante’s multifaceted displays. "But Leicester plan to offer him a lucrative new deal to keep him at the King Power Stadium," Lewis wrote.

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Ahead of Leicester’s vital 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday, Squawka Football gave us a rundown of the kind of impact the 24-year-old has had for Claudio Ranieri’s team this season:

Kante’s influence isn’t limited to the defensive side of the game, though. He’s a player who can not only snuff out opposition attacks but surge through the field with the ball, cutting out opposition defenders with his loping stride and understated strength; his versatility at the core of the team has been imperative to Leicester successfully executing their counter-attacking blueprint.

Arsenal, obviously, could do with a player who offers so much. The Gunners haven’t had a player who is so box-to-box since Patrick Vieira donned the iconic red jersey, and Kante has the technical traits to fit in at the club. As is evident by the report, though, it seems as though the league leaders will do their utmost to keep him around.