New Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella says he doesn’t know whether Arsenal target Steven N’Zonzi will stay with the club or not.

Montella took over at the Spanish club at the end of December 2017, after they sacked Eduardo Berizzo. His first big job is to sort out the future of N’Zonzi, who hasn’t played since mid-November.

“He is an important player and he has been training very well and he has a great attitude. But I can’t get into his head though, so I don’t know whether he will continue with us or not,” said Montella.

It sounds like the new manager would happily keep the French international if possible. The question is simply whether N’Zonzi has already made up his mind to go.

The media have consistently linked the 29-year-old with a move to North London in the past month. However, it’s not clear what the player actually wants next. He admitted his future is somewhere other than Seville, but that was before the recent managerial sacking.

This all started back in November, when the Frenchman fell out with management after Sevilla’s game against Liverpool. Berizzo didn’t even name the midfielder on the bench, and allowed him to travel to London to visit family.

What we don’t know, is the full story of why they fell out in the first place. Maybe N’Zonzi’s relationship with the club is beyond repair, or it may have only been to do with Berizzo, meaning a move away in January is less likely.