Arsenal free to make 24-year-old first summer signing – report

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Photo: The Sport Review

Arsenal are free to make Lyon star Nabil Fekir their first summer signing, according to a report in France.

French media outlet L’Equipe, as quoted by the Sun, is reporting that the Gunners can activiate a clause in Fekir’s contract that will force Lyon to sell the attacker in a big-money deal this summer.

The same article reveals that the Gunners sent scouts to watch the playmaker in Lyon’s 5-2 win over Dijon last month ahead of a potential summer swoop to sign the 24-year-old attacking midfielder.

The story goes on to suggest that the Ligue 1 side won’t stand in Fekir’s way of a life-changing move to the Premier League side after Lyon sold Alexandre Lacazette in a £52m deal last summer.

Fekir has scored 17 times and has made two assists in 28 games in Ligue 1 in the current campaign to earn a reputation as one of France’s most-exciting attacking talents over the past season.

Wenger took charge of his final Arsenal game at the Emirates Stadium last weekend following a 5-0 win over Burnley on Sunday.

The Gunners signed Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan last summer.

Arsenal are set to finish in sixth place in the Premier League table.

MORE: Latest Arsenal news and views

MORE: Football transfer rumours and gossip