Rumour: Arsenal close to signing Toulouse’s Serge Aurier as Sagna nears exit

Serge Aurier reacts after scoring his team’s equalizer during the French L1 football match Olympique de Marseille vs Toulouse at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille

Arsenal are reportedly edging closer to the signature of Serge Aurier, with the defender set to sign a five-year deal at the club if French right-back Bacary Sagna departs for pastures new.

Sagna’s future is under intense scrutiny with the defender out-of-contract at the end of the season. It looks like Arsene Wenger has given up attempting to persuade the France international to stay at the club, so has made reservation plans for when the right-back decides to depart.

According to reports in Italy, Ivory Coast’s Serge Aurier has already agreed a five-year contract with Arsene Wenger’s men and will join in the summer. Arsenal have been linked with a number of players, including Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller.

Aurier has a history with Arsenal, of some sort, after recently posting pictures of him online wearing the clubs shirt. He also received an Arsenal top with his name on it as a present by his Toulouse team-mates back in January, which added more fuel to the fire surrounding the 21-year-olds future.

The marauding defender has caught the eye of many during a great season for Toulouse in Ligue 1 and Arsene Wenger is keen to wrap up a deal before the defender goes out to Brazil with his national side.