Arsenal are reportedly set to receive a setback in the race for Pape Abou Cisse as Wolves look set to seal a £10 million deal for the Senegalese defender.
Arsenal’s search for a centre-back continues as Unai Emery looks to strengthen his backline ahead of next season. The Gunners have a few targets in sight, but they might be set to be beaten for one prospective target. According to Greek outlet Gavros (h/t The Sun), 23-year-old Olympiacos central defender Pape Abou Cisse is set to join Wolves instead of Arsenal in a £10 million deal.
Arsenal fans had been relieved by the news of their club finally making some positive moves in the transfer market. The club are reportedly set to sign William Saliba from Saint-Etienne. They will send him back to Saint-Etienne on loan for next season. But, with Laurent Koscielny expected to move away from the Emirates, Arsenal need to sign a central defender.
There were some names linked with a transfer, including Ruben Dias as a possible replacement Koscielny. But, so far, things have been cold on the defensive front. Meanwhile, the focus has been on recruiting Wilfried Zaha and Kieran Tierney.
However, with their eyes fixed elsewhere, Arsenal might be set to lose out on one prospect – Pape Abou Cisse. Gavros (h/t The Sun) claim that Wolves are inching closer to sign the 23-year-old from Olympiacos for £10 million. The centre-back recently featured for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Algeria and is widely considered as a hot prospect.
Wolves, who finished an impressive seventh in the Premier League last season, are on course to competing in the Europa League this season. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has already signed striker Raul Jimenez and midfielder Leander Dendoncker permanently. Signing Cisse is a massive statement of intent for the Premier League side and their ambitions for next season.
With the transfer market closing before the new Premier League season begins, Arsenal need to act fast to secure players who they’d like to fill the central defensive void. With the links to several defenders still somewhat cold, Emery will be looking to close in on current targets and refocus their efforts on signing a central defender or two.
As for Cisse, a move to Wolves ought to benefit his growth, seeing as he will challenge Ryan Bennett for a place in the back-three. Arsenal though, need to set their sights elsewhere and move quickly to land a centre-back in this summer’s transfer window.
