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Arsenal line up deal for Chelsea and Manchester City target Geoffrey Kondogbia
ARSENAL are lining up a move for Sevilla's French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Reports in Italy suggest that the Gunners are the latest club to express interest in Kondogbia, who has also been linked with a move to Manchester City and Chelsea.
But according to transfer website Tuttomercatoweb Arsenal's biggest rivals for the 20-year-old's signing will come from Spain, with Real Madrid also known to hold an interest in the player.
Kondogbia has a contract at Sevilla until 2017 having only joined the club from Lens last season, but Los Rojiblancos seem resigned to seeing the midfielder depart this summer if someone meets his release clause of£8.5m.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery told Marca: "We want him to stay here but there are circumstances that could lead to an exit.
"We will not make any movement to sell. There is no need to sell and we all know that in the club."
Last month Kondogbia spoke at his pride at being linked to Real Madrid but seemed to suggest he would remain at Sevilla for the upcoming season at least.
He said: "I am flattered to be linked with Real Madrid.
"They are a top club, but Sevilla are fantastic for me at the moment.
"Chelsea are also a great team with a great manager, so let's wait and see what will happen after the World Cup."
Since then though Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has confirmed that a bid has been received, but that he still hopes the player will stay.
He said: "We have rejected an offer for Kondogbia - the bid was not sufficient. Our idea is that he continues growing at Sevilla, just like he did last year. But there is a release clause that says if we have a written offer of £8.5million, we must accept it and he can go."
Kondogbia made 31 appearances for Sevilla in La Liga last season and is thought to have impressed France coach Didier Deschamps with his displays at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey this summer, where he played in the same side as recent Arsenal arrival Yaya Sanogo.