Arsenal Transfer News: French Defender Could Head to Real Madrid

Real Madrid are following the situation of Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny closely as the Spanish league giants look forward to rope in a centre-back this summer, according to French magazine France Football.

Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo had revealed that newly-appointed Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez admires the Gunners defender and the ex-Liverpool head coach could be asking the Los Blancos to line up an offer for the 29-year-old Frenchman to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

However, no offer has been put forward in the table by the Whites for Koscielny.

The France international joined the Gunners in 2012 from French outfit Lorient, and in his past five seasons under the tutelage of tactician Arsene Wenger, Koscielny developed a formidable partnership with German international Per Mertesacker in the heart of the defence for Arsenal.

The no-nonsense defender received plaudits from several quarters for his performances with Arsenal over the course of the last two seasons especially, as the Gunners went on to win two back-to-back FA Cup titles in the 2013-14 season as well as the 2014-15 season, respectively.

According to the French magazine, Real are pursuing the player closely, and more so owing to the fact that their star defender Sergio Ramos is all over the news these days, as the Spaniard is set for a potential move to Manchester United this summer.

It is understood that the Red Devils have put in an official bid for Ramos in the region of £35m, and the Spain International is also willing to leave Los Blancos. Thus, the need for a potential replacement arises. And Koscielny fits the bill.

It has been mooted that the Whites are ready to spend €30m (£21m) to bring Koscielny to the club this summer, where he can join his international teammate and colleague Raphael Varane, at the centre of the defence.

Koscielny's current contract with Arsenal runs until June 2017, and his present market value is around the region of £17m.

The Frenchman has appeared in a total of 204 games in the course of five seasons with Arsenal.