France Football: Arsenal turn to Ligue 1-based international to fill defender void

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Published on:

18 Aug 2016, 5:24 am

By Joe Nelson

Arsenal are eyeing up Monaco defender Marcel Tisserand in an attempt to bolster their back line, according to a report.

France Football claim that Arsene Wenger is interested in the 23-year-old DR Congo international, as he tries to plug the gaps in his defence.

Wenger is actively chasing defensive cover after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, and the versatile Ligue 1 defender is the latest to be linked.

The Express reported that Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi is keen on a move to Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal are yet to make an offer for the defender, who is valued at £26million by his club Valencia.

Tisserand, who has three years remaining on his contract, spent last season on loan at Toulouse, where he impressed throughout the season.

He has come through the ranks at Monaco and has been with the club since he was 16-years-old.

The versatile 6ft 1in defender can play at centre-back or right-back, and would provide cover for Wenger, who saw his inexperienced centre-back pairing of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers concede four in Arsenal's 4-3 defeat to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the Premier League.

In other Arsenal transfer news, the club's talisman has delivered a bombshell by telling Wenger he is keen to move abroad.

Arsenal

Monaco

Shkodran Mustafi