Arsenal transfer news: Steven N’Zonzi tells Sevilla he wants to leave as Gunners make offer
Arsenal have spent a huge chunk of £70m transfer budget and will have to stump up £35m if they want French international this season
ARSENAL target Steven N’Zonzi has told Sevilla he wants to leave to push through a return to England.
The midfielder currently on World Cup duty with France has been sounded out by the Gunners about a potential link up with his former Sanchez Pizjuan boss Unai Emery.
However, if Arsenal are serious about landing the 29-year-old, they will have to pay his £35million buy-out clause inserted into his one-year contract extension signed in February.
SunSport have been told Serie A champions Juventus are also hot on his trail and have tabled a counter offer to lure N'Zonzi to Italy with the prospect of Champions League football next season.
N’Zonzi moved to Spain three years ago from Stoke in a cut-price deal after refusing to sign a new contract with the Staffordshire outfit.
After winning the Europa League in 2016, N’Zonzi was close to leaving last season after a bust-up with former Los Rojiblancos coach Eduardo Berizzo.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LIVE All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup
The Spaniards have become frustrated with the player and his antics – in past summers he has agitated for a move but decided to stay and sign a new contract.
The club has told N’Zonzi and his representatives he is free to leave if his buy-out clause is met in full.
And new boss Joaquin Caparros is looking to bolster his midfield options with the potential of N’Zonzi spending more time on the bench next season.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have confirmed the signing of Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
The Greek international is Emery’s third addition following the arrivals of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen and 34-year-old Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free from Juventus.