Serge Aurier linked to Arsenal

Bacary Sagna continues to refuse to agree to Arsenal's contract offer, and his exit looks ever more likely as the clock ticks towards the end of May. With Carl Jenkinson not inspiring confidence as a consistent starter, Arsenal are going to need to buy a new right back this summer should Sagna leave. Rumours have been flying around right backs since the winter, with two names consistently linked: Sebastian Jung, of Eintracht Frankfurt, and Serge Aurier, of Toulouse.

Aurier was photographed last summer in an Arsenal replica shirt, and is allegedly an Arsenal fan. The Ivory Coast international, 21, has been Toulouse's best player this season, leading their assist charts with 6, as well as being their most prolific tackler. He's been versatile, too, playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 system, as well as playing centre back, and has been decent in the air, winning 62% of his aerial duels despite being just 5'9 (Sagna has won 68%). He is a more attacking full back than Sagna, which could result in some changes in Arsenal's system, though it has been noticeable how much of the pitch Sagna has covered this season, especially in the absence of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

TMW, who are noted transfer hit whores and of dubious reliability, have claimed in an 'exclusive' that Arsenal are about to complete a deal for Aurier. While that is likely not true at this stage, TMW throw so much at the wall that more than enough of the deals they claim do come off, and it meshes with reports from the winter. So while the deal is likely not done, and won't be for some time, it wouldn't be surprising if Aurier were an Arsenal player next season.