Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow.
The Switzerland international is currently away with his country at the 2022 World Cup, where he has been sharing a dressing room with Gunners captain Granit Xhaka.
Sow left BSC Young Boys in 2019 to sign for Frankfurt, and he was a driving force in their run to Europa League glory last year with one goal and three assists from 12 continental games.
The 25-year-old has remained a key player for Die Adler in the 2022-23 campaign, making 24 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals in the Bundesliga.
Sow is only contracted to Frankfurt until the summer of 2024, meaning that the Europa League holders could come under pressure to sell next year if he does not renew his deal.
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Nottingham Forest were credited with an interest in the former Borussia Monchengladbach youngster during the summer, but the transfer window closed with Sow still at the Deutsche Bank Park.
Now, Sport BILD - via football.london - claims that Arsenal are now considering a move for the midfielder, but Frankfurt are after a lucrative offer to sanction a sale.
The report claims that Forest have submitted an offer of €20m (£17.2m) with a further €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons, but the Tricky Trees would be unable to compete with Arsenal financially.
The Gunners would also have the upper hand in the race due to their place in the Europa League, and they are on course to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal were expected to sign a new central midfielder in the summer transfer window, but Mohamed Elneny's one-year contract extension lessened their need for immediate reinforcements.
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The Gunners were strongly linked with a move for Leicester City's Youri Tielemans and are expected to reignite their interest in the Belgian - who is still due to become a free agent at the end of the season - in January or over the summer.
Mikel Arteta's side are also said to be plotting a mid-season move for Palmeiras lynchpin Danilo, who recently opened the door to a future move to the Premier League.
Sow has amassed a total of six goals and 13 assists from 137 appearances in a Frankfurt shirt in all competitions, and he started all three of Switzerland's World Cup group stage matches against Brazil, Cameroon and Serbia.
The 25-year-old, who has played in an advanced position for his country, set up Xherdan Shaqiri's opener in last week's 3-2 win over Serbia, which confirmed Switzerland's place in the knockout rounds.
Sow will be expected to keep his place in the starting lineup when Switzerland take on Portugal in Tuesday's last-16 clash at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Ben Knapton
