Arsenal are expected to make an improved €13m bid for FC Lorient winger Alexis Claude-Maurice this week, according to reliable reports in France.

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Alexis Claude-Maurice of Lorient (Photo via Metro)

For those of you who don’t know or remember Mohamed Toubache-Ter, he was the journalist who first revealed Arsenal’s move for Matteo Guendouzi last summer.

As a result, it’s worth taking him seriously with his latest claims (via GFFN) that Arsenal are set to make a second €13m bid for 21-year-old Claude-Maurice. The Gunners reportedly already made an opening offer of €7m.

Unfortunately, it seems as if this new bid may well be unsuccessful as well. Lorient are seemingly holding out for at least €15m, amid interest from AS Monaco, Lille, Mainz and Gladbach. Rennes have also formally enquired and Eintracht Frankfurt have had a €7m bid knocked back.

The next 10 days are expected to be pivotal, according to the report.

As well as out wide, Claude-Maurice can also play in attacking midfield. The young Frenchman scored 14 goals and assisted four in 36 games this season, including many efforts from long-range. You can watch all of his goals and assists below:

Arsenal are certainly in need of goalscoring wide players, although the assumption was that they might look to the academy to find them. The likes of Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka and Xavier Amaechi are all waiting for chances in wide areas.

Then again, perhaps the Gunners plan to sign the Lorient man to play more centrally, or they intend to loan out one or two of the academy youngsters. At this stage, it’s hard to say for sure.