Arsenal Transfer News: Malang Sarr Interest Reported, Latest Gunners Rumours

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up highly rated Nice defender Malang Sarr, who has impressed in his breakthrough season in Ligue 1.

The 17-year-old can operate in any position across the back, but it’s in the heart of Nice’s rearguard where he’s really come into his own this year.

So much so that French outlet L’Equipe said that Nice are desperate to tie the youngster down to a bumper new contract, while Le 10 Sport added that Arsenal are waiting in the wings and ready to pounce (h/t Dipesh Agarwal of Sport Witness).

Sarr sprung on to the scene when he nodded home the winning goal in Nice’s 1-0 victory over Rennes at the start of the campaign, and he’s continued to impress ever since.

With immense power, pace and positional expertise, Sarr shows experience way beyond his tender years and certainly looks like being an ever-present in the game for years to come.

Arsenal would be hoping that he’d soon call north London home, but landing a 17-year-old in his debut season isn’t going to be the cost-effective process you might expect.

Nice are reportedly set to insert a whopping €50 million release clause in Sarr’s new four- or five-year contact, which could price the Gunners out of the deal, per L'Equipe.

Parting with that much money for an unproven defender isn’t the way manager Arsene Wenger does business, and it seems the only way Sarr will head to the Emirates is if the boss convinces him before contract negotiations begin at Nice.

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However, Agarawal said the starlet is expected to sign on the dotted line at Allianz Riviera as soon as next week.

In other news, Arsenal have another rising star on their radar in the form of 18-year-old Matthias Verreth.

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That’s according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, who said the Gunners are interested in landing the PSV Eindhoven youngster (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror).

Verreth has made six first-team appearances for PSV this term from right wing and has impressed with a string of exciting performances.

Arsenal are in familiar territory this season. After a fast and professional start, Premier League fans all over are questioning when the wheels are going to come off.

Business in the January window could be the difference between a successful season and one that peters out into nothingness, which is why Wenger needs to spend wisely and put plans in place over the coming months.