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Arsenal transfer news: Gunners trying cheeky Sevilla tactic for Steven Nzonzi - reports
ARSENAL are looking to negotiate a lower fee with Sevilla for Steven Nzonzi to avoid paying the midfielder’s release clause.
Arsenal: Board 'not keen' on Steven Nzonzi says fan
The France international has a €40million (£35.7m) buy-out clause in his contract with the La Liga outfit as confirmed by director of football Joaquin Caparros recently.
He revealed: "We have not received any offers for him and I will say the same to any clubs who may be interested as what we said with [Clement] Lenglet - he has a buy-out clause and it's €40m."
But the Gunners are looking to talk Sevilla into accepting a lower offer for the former Stoke City man according to France Football.
The 29-year-old made five appearances for World Cup winners France in Russia earlier this summer, featuring in a final win over Croatia, and has long been an Arsenal target.
Unai Emery has already improved his midfield with the £26.4m capture of Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria but is said to be keen on Nzonzi, who also played in the Premier League with Blackburn.
The Spaniard is thought to have spent all of his summer budget having also brought in Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Matteo Guendouzi.
But Arsenal may need to add in midfield with Aaron Ramsey entering the final year of his contract in north London and having yet to commit to a new deal.
And potential player sales, the likes of Danny Welbeck, Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez all linked with exits, could allow Emery to complete further business before the window closes on August 9.
Nzonzi has also been linked with Roma and Barcelona and Emery was coy when asked about a possible move for the holding midfielder earlier this month, stating: “I know him, but we haven’t made a move for him.”
Nzonzi was signed by Emery at Sevilla in 2015 and has made 136 appearances, scoring eight goals, for the Andalusian outfit since then.
He was a crucial member of the Sevilla team that won the Europa League against Liverpool in his first season while Emery was at the helm before switching to Paris Saint-Germain.