Arsenal may have received a boost in their pursuit of Steven N’Zonzi after Sam Allardyce ruled out an Everton transfer.

N’Zonzi could be on the move in January and has been linked with both Arsenal and Everton.

However, Everton manager Sam Allardyce feels his squad have enough midfielders already, and said he would have to sell someone if he wanted to bring the Frenchman in.

“My position is still to strengthen in more appropriate areas like a front man and full back. At the moment we are running with two full backs,” said Allardyce, as reported by the Metro.

“I would take Steven N’Zonzi tomorrow. He is one of my better buys in my lifetime, only €650,000 from France to Blackburn Rovers. He became young player of the year and player of the year in his first season at Blackburn Rovers when we finished 10th.

“He was a terrific pinch out of the French leagues and has gone on to do terrific things in his career

“For me, knowing him from that age and knowing him now, yes I would like him but with the amount of midfield players I have at the moment I’d have to move some player out to bring a player like Steven in.”

N’Zonzi hasn’t played for Sevilla since their 3-3 draw with Liverpool in November.

He had a falling out with former head coach Eduardo Berizzo and was exiled from the squad.

That fuelled speculation that he would be leaving La Liga in January.

Since then, Berizzo has been replaced by Vincenzo Montella, so the situation could change.

N’Zonzi has a £35m release clause in his contract which, in today’s market, seems a modest price for a very good defensive midfielder.

If Arsenal are interested in bringing a holding midfielder in, there are few more readily available players out there.

The 29-year-old joined Sevilla in 2015 and flourished while playing at a higher level.

He won the Europa League in 2016 and was a key part of the side that made the knockout stages of the Champions League last season.