Arsenal have been linked with a move for Steven N’Zonzi for weeks as Arsene Wenger looks to add more steel to his midfield.
Express Sport understands the former Stoke and Blackburn man is the Frenchman’s No 1 transfer target this month.
And it seems the Gunners have every chance of luring him to the Emirates, after Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella admitted he was not confident N’Zonzi would stay in Spain.
“He is an important player and he has been training very well and he has a great attitude,” Montella said when asked about the 29-year-old.
“But I can’t get into his head though, so I don’t know whether he will continue with us or not.”
Arsenal are not the only Premier League club looking at the France international, with West Ham and Everton also linked.
Sam Allardyce signed N’Zonzi in 2009 while at Blackburn and is said to be keen to reunite with him at Goodison Park.
And Gunners legend Charlie Nicholas thinks Wenger would be wise to steer clear of the midfielder and focus his attention on other targets.
“It has been so poor defensively for four, five seasons and a defensive-minded midfielder would really help us out,” the Sky Sports pundit said.
“I don’t bring Steven N’Zonzi into that party.
“I’d be more interested in somebody like Abdoulaye Doucoure, who could play a deeper role quite nicely for us.”
N’Zonzi has spent two years in Spain with Sevilla, making 108 appearances in all competitions and is under contract until June 2020.