French International centre half Laurent Koscielny set to move from Arsenal to Bordeaux for a fee of €5 million.
Laurent Koscielny who has been with the Gunners since 2010 having been signed by Arsene Wenger from Lorient for a nearly £10 million. The Frenchman was an integral part of that Gunners defence during that time.
Koscielny made over 350 appearances for the club in his nine-year stay. He won three FA Cup medals at Arsenal. His final year was injury-plagued and only made his first appearance in December.
Controversy
The end of Koscielny's time at Arsenal was surrounded in controversy with the then Club Captain refusing to embark on the pre-season tour of the USA in order to force a move back to France. The centre half also rejected a contract offer as he felt it undervalued a player of his vintage.
According to the brief statement at the time, the club had hoped to rectify the situation with the defender. However, with apparently multiple offers from France already on the table, and the player in the final year of his contract, it looked highly unlikely.
The Gunners have agreed on a deal to sell the Frenchman to Bordeaux for a fee €5 million. The personal terms are still to be fully ironed out. The player also needs to pass a medical.
Replacement
The race is on now for the Gunners to find a replacement before the transfer window slams shut at 5.00 on Thursday afternoon. The club are still interested in Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney despite the 22-year-old Scotland international being injured.
While Koscielny may not be the only one on the way out of the Emirates. Carl Jerkinson is expected to complete a move to Nottingham Forest in the coming days.
20-year-old striker Eddie Nketiahto could leave the club on a season-long loan, with Bristol City among a number of sides in talks to sign the England Under-21 international.
However, Arsenal have received no firm offers for Shkodran Mustafiand attempts to move the 27-year-old German on are further complicated by his desire to stay.
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