by Lewis Ambrose

Internazionale have been strongly linked with a deal for Giannelli Imbula of Olympique Marseille, but claims in the Italian media say Arsenal are looking to snatch the midfielder.

Imbula is considered a defensive midfielder and has now spent two years at Marseille as well as making seven appearances for the French u21 side.

Inter have been very close to a deal for the midfielder but there may now be an opening as they look set to sign Geoffrey Kondogbia of AS Monaco – are they really likely to purchase both midfielders?

Kondogbia has all but signed for Inter with a medical pencilled in for Monday – where does that leave Imbula and Marseille?

According to Gianluca Di Mario of Sky Italia the Milan-based club are interested in adding both midfielders to their squad but, with Kondogbia costing €40M, there could be questions over whether or not such a splurge is financially viable.

Talks

Arsenal are said to be in talks with Imbula’s father and could feel optimistic about their chances of convincing him to sign – if we are indeed in talks with him then it is clear a deal with Inter isn’t sealed, despite the club having a €18.5M agreement with the Ligue 1 side that the 22 year-old currently plays for.

At that price the midfielder could certainly be an option for Wenger to consider with Arsenal allegedly reluctant to pay the significantly higher asking prices of both Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak.

If Arsenal are indeed looking for a midfielder but are not desperate enough to pay over £20M it could be that Imbula is a player the club will think about.

If so they will have to decide and act quickly with Inter not messing around this window.