Arsenal Transfer News: Fresh Rumours, Signings Linked to Arsene Wenger's Gunners

AC Milan forward M'Baye Niang has revealed he had the opportunity to join Arsenal or Everton before agreeing his move to the San Siro from former club Caen. Meanwhile, the agent of Franck Kessie has admitted the Gunners have made contact for the starlet.

In an interview with Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato), Niang confirmed he also had the chance to join Leicester City in January and still "dreams" of a Premier League switch in the future:

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I could have played in the Premier League and I dream of playing there one day. They play the right football for my skills. When I moved to Milan, I could have moved to Arsenal or Everton instead. Two or three days before last year’s derby I received the offer of Leicester. I asked my agent what Milan wanted to do and he told me that they wanted to keep me. ‘You are going to stay and score in the derby’ Mihajlovic told me at the time.

I have no regrets; I’d have been Vardy’s back-up. They have plenty of money in England, they can spend € 20 million to sign a player who stays on the bench.

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The 21-year-old moved to Milan from Ligue 1 outfit Caen in 2012 but has struggled for consistency since moving to Italy and was sent out on loan to Montpellier and Genoa in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

However, the former France under-21 international is now benefiting from being afforded his chances under new manager Vincenzo Montella, and WhoScored.com highlighted the mixed bag that's been 2016-17 thus far:

During his days at Caen, Niang became one of the most coveted youngsters in France's top flight, so it makes sense Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger might show an interest in him, despite his failure to land a deal.

Di Marzio translator David Amoyal is also a fan of the versatile attacker, who can play out wide or in a more advanced central position, showing his worth to the Rossoneri so far this term:

With Danny Welbeck still on the treatment table and main striker Olivier Giroud still lacking in scoring form, the Gunners may regret not sealing a deal to recruit the French forward when they had the supposed chance.

Elsewhere, the agent of Atalanta midfield maestro Kessie has confirmed to Goal's Chris Wheatley that the Gunners had a scout in attendance to watch the youngster in Wednesday's Serie A outing against Palermo.

Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

The representative is quoted as saying: “They [Arsenal] were here in Italy to watch him. Arsenal are a good team, but there are a lot of teams interested in him so they’re not the only possible destination.”

It's reported Chelsea and Juventus are also among the clubs interested in the 19-year-old, and it's of little wonder considering his blistering start to the 2016-17 season, per OptaPaolo:

Kessie has earned comparisons to Manchester City powerhouse Yaya Toure, owing to the fact he's largely deployed as an anchoring midfielder but has shown serious promise moving forward with the ball this term.

Arsenal may be wary of the playmaker's intentions, however, after Wheatley also outlined the player himself has spoken of his desire to one day join their Premier League rivals, Manchester United.