Yan M'Vila has admitted his admiration for Arsenal and said he would be open to a move to the Emirates.
M'Vila has long been linked with a move to Arsenal with several reports claimeing the signing is imminent. The French defensive midfielder has invoked interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world, including the likes of Inter Milan and Manchester City, after impressing for his club side Rennes in the last couple of seasons.
Arsenal reportedly put in a big-money bid for the midfielder last summer, but Rennes did not want their biggest asset to leave.
However, it is understood M'Vila will be on the move, with Arsenal touted as the most likely destination. Rennes manager Frederic Antonetti had said his star player was likely to leave in the summer.
"Yann M'Vila won't be a Rennes player next season," Antonetti said a couple of months back."
M'Vila, who is currently with the French National side at Euro 2012, will cost Arsenal around 17 million pounds ($26 million), which will make the 21-year-old Arsenal's most expensive ever signing, breaking the 15 million pounds ($23.5 million) they paid for Andrei Arshavin.
Arsene Wenger is keen on bolstering his defensive midfield options to reduce the burden on Alex Song. M'Vila has often been compared with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira and has now said he would like to move to North London.
"I like Arsenal and I like the Premier League but I don't know what is happening with the clubs, though," M'Vila is quoted as saying by the Daily Star Sunday.
"But I would be interested in the Premier League and Arsenal."
M'Vila had earlier in the year, hinted at his preference for Arsenal, saying he would like to link up with a French coach, who can take him to the next level. "If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything," M'Vila said in April.
