Arsenal showing interest in sensational French starlet
Reports are suggesting that Arsenal are again paying special attention to Stade Malherbe Caen winger, M’Baye Niang, with a view to a January move.
Arsene Wenger is known to have enquired about the attacker in the past but is hoping to take the next step in his signature by submitting a formal bid.
The 17 year-old has lit up the French top flight at times with his explosive runs down the flank, dizzying opposition defences with his dribbling.
The teenager is an Under-21 French international and has made two appearances for the side and will be hoping to secure a move to a higher division in the distant hopes that he can advance his progression through the youth setup in the hopes that he can debut for the senior team.
Niang is a rising talent in Ligue 1 and despite his age, the youngster made a good impression in his first denior term at Caen last season as the club managed a 15th placed finish.
The Gunners may have signed two widemen over the summer periods and while Gervinho has featured prominently in Wenger’s side since his arrival, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to make his break into the first team plans.
The manager of the North London outfit has claimed that 2012 will be the year in which Oxlade-Chamberlain makes his surge but the Frenchman is known to have a penchant for young talent and when the player in question is a countryman of Wenger’s, there’s even more chance of Arsenal interest.
Niang will join an already strong contingent of French-speaking players at the Emirates Stadium and could be signed in the hopes of providing more ammunition to the faultless form of Robin van Persie.
If the Premier League giants were to submit a bid for the youth, it would be expected to cost the around £10m and runs the risk of frustrating a certain amount of club supporters who will be hoping for more proven signings with an instant injection of talent in the starting XI and not a ‘signing for the future’; a trademark of the French boss.
