Real Madrid Surprisingly Linked With Arsenal Star

UEFA Champions League (UCL) holders Real Madrid have reportedly been linked with the vice-captain of Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny, as a possible reinforcement at the Santiago Bernebeu.

Koscielny, widely regarded as one of the best centre backs in the English Premier League (EPL), has been a top performer for his club and developed into a key player with the Emirates Stadium side since he made a move from France.

According to reports from Spain, the 11-time European champions are willing to offer a mammoth fee of around £37.8m however whether that would be enough to let Arsenal release him is a different kettle of fish entirely.

Real Madrid have seen a settled centre back partnership of skipper Sergio Ramos and young French defender Raphael Varane in the past few games with Portuguese centre back Pepe struggling with injuries with the Los Merengues looking to bring in the aforementioned 31-year old to replace Pepe having identified him as an upgrade on former Lens star Varane.

Aside his defensive abilities, which has been crucial with Arsenal conceding the third least amount of goals in the EPL this season behind fellow London sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, Koscielny is also a potent threat in the opposition’s box with two league goals already this season against Southampton and newly promoted side Burnley.