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Arsenal face Monaco challenge after £13m bid for Geoffrey Kondogbia
ARSENAL face stiff competition to sign Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia after Monaco launched a £13m bid for the player's services.
Arsenal were thought to be preparing a bid for Kondogbia before the end of the transfer window as Arsene Wenger looks to add to his squad in the wake of a 3-1 opening day defeat to Aston Villa.
But reports in France suggest that Monaco have now declared their intent to bring the former Lens player back to France by making a £13m offer with some sources even suggesting that a deal may have already been agreed in principle.
Monaco have bid £13m for Geoffrey Kondogbia
Sevilla have previously stated that Kondogbia will not be leaving for less than his buy-out clause of £17m but according to Le10Sport Monaco retain hope that there is some room for negotiation.
Officially Sevilla maintain that Kondogbia is not for sale at all this summer despite the player being linked with a move to Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid in addition to Arsenal.
And now reports in Italy suggest that Juventus are the latest club to join the race for Kondogbia, who made his full international debut for France against Belguim last week.
Juventus are thought to have been buoyed by the fact that Monaco are yet to pay Kondogbia's full release clause as stipulated by Sevilla.
Ironically, the Old Lady's entry into the Kondogbia stakes could be a good thing for Arsenal with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that any move for the French youngster could result in another Gunners target, for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, being allowed to leave Turin.