According to talkSPORT, Porto have set an £18.5m marker for the services of Gianelli Imbula.
Imbula is said to be on the radar of a Premier League sides Chelsea and Southampton. Arsenal also face overseas competition for the signature Belgian-born French U20/U21 international from AC Milan, who reportedly lead the chase for the midfielder, but are said to be put off by the asking price.
Imbula signed for Porto as recently as July 2015 on a five-year deal from Marseille but since his arrival in Portugal has struggled to make the desired impact for the Primeira Liga leaders.
The 23-year-old central midfielder could leave Porto as soon as January but despite his stuttering start to the league campaign, the Portuguese giants are unwilling to lose the services of Imbula without making a £4m profit on the midfielder, having bought him for £14.5m in the summer.Currently, Arsenal are short of central midfield cover. Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are all unavailable, whilst injuries to Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez prevent rotation of wide players who may be able to do a job in the centre of the park.
The defeat to Southampton two days prior has brought the all to familiar pressure to make signings during the upcoming January transfer window, and Arsenal are already reportedly close to signing another central midfielder in Mohamed Elneny for £5m from Basel. If Imbula is to follow suit will he add to other affluent French signings that have defined the Wenger-era, or will he fall short of the required standard as many others from the French national pool have previously?
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