Arsenal Transfer News: Laurent Koscielny Comments on Future, Latest Rumours
November 7, 2016
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has opened the door for a possible move away from the club in the future, although he has insisted he is currently happy at the Emirates Stadium.
The France international has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in recent seasons and has been a linchpin of the Gunners side in the early stages of the current campaign. However, the Arsenal man has revealed he may try his hand in a different division one day.
"My future? I work really well at the club, and they are also happy with my work so I don't see why there would be a reason to leave," the 31-year-old said, per Telefoot (via Le10Sport.com and h/t Dipesh Agarwal of Sport Witness). "Desire to travel? It is always possible, but at the moment I haven't bought a plane ticket."
As noted by Agarwal, Koscielny was linked with a move to Bayern Munich recently, and these quotes may trigger some concerns among the Arsenal fanbase.
After all, losing the former Lorient man would be a huge blow to the Gunners. Koscielny has become a talismanic figure at the back for Arsene Wenger's side, leading by example with exemplary defending and unbending commitment.
Per Squawka Football, despite his robustness at the back, it's rare to see Koscielny indulge in reckless defending:
At 31, the centre-back is arguably in the peak years of his career, and the Gunners fanbase will be hopeful his partnership with Shkodran Mustafi will blossom for many seasons to come. This term, it's a dynamic that's helped propel Arsenal into the reckoning for the Premier League crown.
Any club seeking to secure the defender would have to part with a massive amount of money, as Koscielny is absolutely vital to the Arsenal cause. It means he'll likely have a few years left at the Emirates yet.
Stefan de Vrij to Extend Lazio Contract
According to Il Tempo (h/t James Whaling of the Daily Mirror), Arsenal and Chelsea target Stefan de Vrij is poised to extend his contract with Lazio.
As noted in the piece, both Premier League sides have been linked with the Dutch international defender. Any new deal for the 24-year-old will reportedly include a release clause of £35.5 million.
De Vrij was a huge success in his first season with the Serie A side in 2014-15, helping them secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the following season. Here's why, at his best, he's among the finest centre-backs in the Italian top flight:
However, the Netherlands international has seen his progress stunted as of late because of injuries. He missed much of the previous term because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and as noted by ESPN FC's David Amoyal, he is facing another spell on the sidelines having fractured his right foot:
De Vrij is commanding, versatile and composed in his defensive duties. As such, it's little surprise the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea have been credited with an interest.
Lazio extending his contract despite recent injury woes would be an admirable stance and one that would surely mean a lot to the player. While Arsenal could potentially pay the aforementioned release clause, they're no longer in desperate need of defensive reinforcements following Mustafi's arrival, while De Vrij would also surely feel some degree of loyalty to the Biancocelesti.