ARSENAL are closing in on Lyon star Nabil Fekir, according to reports.
The Daily Star claim a deal worth more than £60million is close to being wrapped up by the Premier League side who are looking to add creative quality in January.
A potential deal for the 24-year-old French international could mitigate to departures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the winter window.
The pair are free agents next summer with no suggestion either of them so far are prepared to sign new deals at the Emirates.
Manchester United are said to be monitoring Ozil’s situation with Sanchez almost certain to join Manchester City in January or for nothing next summer.
Fekir can operate as a central striker or in a withdrawn No.10 role with Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas dubbing the forward “my Lionel Messi”.
The Gunners are no strangers to doing business with Lyon, with boss Arsene Wenger snapping up Alexandre Lacazette last summer for a club record £52m.
Arsenal are understood to be ready to accept as little as £30m for contract rebel Ozil, with a similar fee for Sanchez if Pep Guardiola comes knocking in January.
Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud has withdrawn from the French squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with Germany in Cologne.
The striker suffered a thigh strain after scoring in last Friday’s win against Wales in Paris and is a major doubt for the North London derby on Sunday.
