Reports are emerging from Russia that Arsenal have attempted to land Alexsandr Kokorin on loan but have been turned down.

Kokorin, who plays for Dynamo Moscow had allegedly been prepared to sign a one-year extension to his current contract in order to help the deal go through but the Russians have turned down his request. That comes from Twitter so I wouldn’t entirely be sure on the reliability of it.

He is out of contract next summer and will be free to agree a deal with any club in January.

Russia's forward Aleksandr Kokorin listens to the national anthem prior to the UEFA Euro-2016 group G qualifying football match between Russia and Austria in Moscow on June 14, 2015. AFP PHOTO / VASILY MAXIMOV
Russia’s forward Aleksandr Kokorin listens to the national anthem prior to the UEFA Euro-2016 group G qualifying football match between Russia and Austria in Moscow on June 14, 2015. AFP PHOTO / VASILY MAXIMOV

The report of the loan deal being refused, however, comes from Sports.ru and they claim Arsenal wanted the player on a season-long loan with an option to purchase at the end of the year.

This comes not long after an agent, who claims he works closely with Arsene Wenger in regards to Ukranian and Russian players, said that the Arsenal boss wasn’t interested in Kokorin.

Kokorin is 24, has played Dynamo Moscow for two years after moving there from Anzhi Makhachkala and has 25 caps for Russia. He scored eight goals in 27 league appearances last season and a total of 10 in 39 in all competitions.

As for the reports, it’s hard to know how much truth there is to any of them.

A loan could make sense if Wenger is hanging his future striking hopes on Chuba Akpom and Yaya Sanogo (seems unlikely) but it would also give the club a chance to see how Kokorin adapts to life in England.

But, even taking that into consideration, it would seem like an odd move for a club the size of Arsenal and their financial resources.

More on this if we can find it.