ARSENAL FACE FIGHT TO KEEP £15M MAN LAURENT KOSCIELNY

ABOVE: Bayern Munich and Barcelona are interested in signing Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny

There is interest. I know that Laurent is part of a shortlist of three or four players for both clubs.

Koscielny's agent Stephane Courbois

17th June 2013

By Darren Witcoop

ARSENAL have been warned they face a major fight to keep hold of £15m-rated defender Laurent Koscielny.

Bayern Munich are now hot on the trail of the Frenchman, joining Barcelona in a battle for the 27-year-old.
Koscielny has already opened the exit door by claiming he could walk away if Arsenal fail to show ambition in the transfer market.
And his agent Stephane Courbois has now admitted that Koscielny, who has four years left on his contract, is a target for both European giants.
He said: “There is interest. I know that Laurent is part of a shortlist of three or four players for both clubs.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would be loathe to lose the centre-back, who has just enjoyed his best season since joining the Gunners for £8.5m from Lorient three years ago.
Koscielny scored the crucial goal in a 1-0 win over Newcastle on the final day of the campaign to secure Champions League football for the north Londoners.
But his recent warning echoes the feelings of Robin van Persie, who left the Emirates for Man United last summer.
The Dutch ace cited the club’s lack of drive to win major trophies as a key reason behind his decision to quit.
Bacary Sagna’s Arsenal future also remains in doubt after he refused to rule out a return to France for a “new challenge”.
Big-spending PSG and Monaco are keen on the right-back.