Unlike most off-seasons, Arsenal seem to be one of the busiest teams in the Premier League and Europe, being linked to a number of high profile young footballers, with Yann M’Vila or Rennes, currently with the French national team in Euro 2012, rumored to be linked with the club for a summer transfer.
Weeks before his 22nd birthday, M’Vila has already been capped 20 times for the national team, although Blanc has preferred both Alou Diarra and Yohan Cabaye in his midfield so far in Euro 2012. He has been lauded with every possible comparison to central midfielders in recent years as he’s become more and more instrumental for Rennes during his three season with the senior team – A combination of Makelele, Vieira and Yaya Toure.
It’s long been rumored that M’Vila won’t be a part of the Rennes setup by the start of the 2012-2013 Ligue 1 season, with the interest around him being too much to ignore for both the player and his club. As you would expect from any player being approached or simply hinted at with a move to a bigger club in a better, richer league, M’Vila is keen on the move.
Arsenal aren’t the only team making noise regarding the very talented midfielder, who has grown into much more than just a defensive midfielder, showing he can play from box to box and as the guy who builds the attacks for his team. Manchester City, Chelsea and Inter Milan are other names thrown when considering M’Vila and his future, but Arsenal seem to be the strongest link so far, with the obvious French connection through Arsene Wenger always there to help stir the imagination.
I have heard Arsenal are interested in me. I like Arsenal and I like the Premier League. I don’t know what is happening with the clubs, but yes, I would be interested in the Premier League and Arsenal.
In three seasons with the club, M’Vila has played 110 matches for the club in the league, scoring two goals and adding three assists. He also noted for his high discipline and relatively low number of yellow cards he picks up when compared with others in his position, with only 16 yellow cards and one red card, which came during his third match as a pro.
M’Vila isn’t the only French player Arsenal are after. Olivier Giroud, also part of the French setup in Euro 2012, making one appearance off the bench so far, seems to be closer to the Gunners than any over team in pursuit of him, with Bayern Munich being the highest-profile club in the chase. According to the Montpellier manager, the London club are on the verge of completing the deal with the French champions.