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Arsenal are making moves to sign Reims defender Axel Disasi says the president of the Ligue 1 side, Jean-Pierre Caillot.
The centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal over the last six months with Goal claiming last month that the Gunners have 'formally contacted' Reims over the 22-year-old, with club scouts 'monitoring him closely' throughout the season.
They would have seen him play all but 90 minutes of the current league season for the team in fifth with Ligue Un’s best defensive record.
With a single year left on his contract and little chance of a renewal, Reims are looking to recoup £13.2 million (€15 million) for Disasi.
And the French club's president has now given a bit of an update on Disasi's future hinting that offers have been received from England.
Caillot told L'Équipe du Soir (via Get French Football News): "At the moment that I am speaking with you, he has little chance of going to Spain. We have more interesting offers from other leagues, I suggest that you read the foreign press and specifically the English (press)."
Speaking on The Ornstein & Chapman Podcast in April, The Athletic journalist Ornstein confirmed Arsenal have an interest in the defender.
"We know central defence is an area that they’re looking to strengthen," Ornstein said.
"In recent days, they've been linked with Axel Disasi at Reims. The young French defender who's only got a year left on his contract.
"It is true that Arsenal have been tracking him over the last year or so – as have many other clubs."
However, Ornstein said at the time that ultimately Arsenal may look at other options with Mikel Arteta having a “preference” to sign a left-footed centre-half.
"I'm not saying I know for sure they won't look to bring (Disasi) in, but what I do know is that he's a right-footed centre-half and Mikel Arteta's preference is to sign permanently a left-footed centre-half," Ornstein continued.
"As such, I understand that it's very likely that they'll make the loan deal for Pablo Mari into a permanent transfer for around £10m or Euros, they're about the same now.
"That would satisfy Arteta's need for the left-sided centre-half, but I'm not exactly sure what else they'll do."
- TEAMtalk media
