Having previously confirmed the fact that reported offers for him were indeed true, M’Baye Niang has been quietly trying to achieve the same level of success that made him a highly-rated teenage sensation when breaking into the Milan side in 2012.

With three goals, three assists and 15 chances created for the Rossoneri this term, it’s clear to see that the 22-year-old is trying but hasn’t quite got the consistency to match up his talent and potential at present.

He’s a player whose stock has stagnated over the past two seasons. The fact that he’s versatile enough to play on either wing, as well as being able to do an effective job in a lone centre forward role, would definitely look appealing to Arsène Wenger as a long-term option going forward.

Suggestions have already been made about the possibility of a summer approach for his services if Alexis Sánchez decides to leave but given the level of attacking depth at the club, it’s unlikely Niang would get regular minutes in the side unless there were more outgoings in that department too.

He has only played a full 90 minutes for Milan on two occasions since the start of October and despite a tendency to underperform at times, he can also impress with his defensive workrate out of possession as well as the number of successful dribbles and key passes he usually makes.

niang cagliari
AC Milan’s forward M’Baye Niang (L) vies with Cagliari defender Fabio Pisacane during the Italian Serie A football match between the two sides at the San Siro stadium in Milan on January 8, 2017. (Picture source: Filipoo Montefeorte / AFP / Getty Images)

With all of that in mind, Arsenal’s reported interest is no surprise for someone in the mould of a Danny Welbeck-type player with less of a notorious injury history. It represents a low-risk acquisition and one that could prove beneficial in the long-term, but it remains an unlikely possibility at the moment.