Arsenal have been given a boost if they are actually interested in signing Manchester City’s Jason Denayer after Galatasaray seemed to slam on the breaks of the player’s move.

Allowed to leave City by Pep Guardiola, the centreback (cough cough) is said to be available for £12m and was expected to rock up in Turkey after a loan spell there.

Now, speaking to Turkish-football, Levent Nazifoglu, Gala’s sporting director, has said, “We were seeking Denayer as a replacement for Chedjou but he will now stay with us and signed a new deal.

“Denayer could end up being a luxury player if we sing him now but we are still interested.”

What’s not clear is if Arsenal’s interest in actually because they like the look of the 21-year-old or because the press think they should because he’s a defender in a position that they desperately need.

Denayer has no Premier League experience (although he has played Champions League) but he’s young and spent last season in the Superliga where he made 17 appearances with a further eight in the Europa League and five in Turkey’s national cup.