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Arsenal line up Juventus full-back Stephan Lichstenier to replace Bacary Sagna
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is preparing to offer Serie A winners Juventus £12m for right-back Stephan Lichsteiner.
The Gunners secured Champions League football at the Emirates next season after a 1-0 win over Newcastle helped pip local rivals Tottenham to fourth place.
And despite criticism in some quarters for celebrating the achievement 'like they had won a trophy' Wenger and Arsenal are already planning their summer spending spree.
According to reports in Italy, Lichsteiner is being lined up as a replacement for current first-choice Sagna, who has admitted he is open to leaving the club.
Lichsteiner can play at right-back or right midfield, and the Switzerland international is thought to have impressed Wenger during a campaign where he has 39 times for club and country, scoring four goals.
PSG and Monaco are the frontrunners to sign Sagna, who may have to pay around £10 million for the Frenchman's services, which is set to be invested immediately in a replacement by the North London outfit.
And Lichsteiner has been mooted as a potential departure from Turin this summer to help raise funds for new signings, which include Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.
Lichsteiner, 29, is just a year younger than Sagna and his signing would allow deputy Carl Jenkinson to continue his development whilst learning from a more experience colleague.