Arsenal make enquiry over €5m-rated Corchia
The Gunners recently asked about the availability of the promising 22-year-old right-back, who they see as a replacement for outgoing France international Bacary Sagna
Arsenal have made an enquiry about Sochaux right-back Sebastien Corchia, Goal.com has learned.
The Gunners were told by the Ligue 1 strugglers that they will have to stump up €5 million for the 22-year-old.
Arsene Wenger has targeted Corchia as he steps up his plans to replace Bacary Sagna, who is set to leave Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
Wenger's main targets are understood to be Corchia - who has represented France at Under-21, U-19, U-18 and U-17 level - and Swansea's Angel Rangel.
The Arsenal manager wants a right-back who can fit in with the Gunners' playing style and challenge Carl Jenkinson for the first-team slot.
Corchia has moved to the top of the Londoners’ wanted list after impressing their scouts with his performances in a team fighting relegation.
He is at the other end of the experience scale to Rangel but has a burgeoning reputation in France. He has started more games for the 16th-placed Ligue 1 club than any other player this season and is regarded in his homeland as a future fixture of the national team.
As reported by Goal.com, Sagna is at loggerheads with Arsenal following the collapse of his contract negotiations and has told team-mates that he expects to leave at the end of the season.
Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to sign Sagna, who is valued at the €9-11m mark by the Gunners and whose current deal expires in 2014.
Wenger wants high-calibre competition for Jenkinson, who has made huge strides this season but is not believed to be ready to play week-in, week-out for the first team.
Rangel, who has been a key figure in Swansea's rise to prominence, is regarded as a strong alternative to Corchia. At 30, the Spaniard is the same age as Sagna and would be a like-for-like replacement for the Frenchman in terms of seniority and experience.
Rangel recently signed a two-year contract extension that ties him to Swansea until 2016, but he remains on Arsenal's radar and the agreement will not stop Wenger from making a move if he decides the Spaniard is the right man.
Originally Posted by Jeebus
