Arsenal to face fight with Atletico Madrid and Monaco for defensive midfielder

ARSENAL are interested in making Youssef Ait Bennasser part of their squad according to reports.

 

Bennasser has only missed two games for Ligue 2 Nancy this season

 

The 19-year-old has played 17 out of AS Nancy’s 19 league games this season as they find themselves top of Ligue 2 at the halfway point.

And their success so far this year has been in no small way down Bennasser’s performances despite the fact he was only promoted from their ‘B’ team over the summer.

Standing six feet tall, the teenager is an imposing presence in front of the defence, but has also contributed a goal and two assists to the cause.

 

Perhaps the greatest indicator of his talent is that he has pushed highly-rated French youth international Remi Walter largely out of the Nancy first team.

But according to reports in France his performances have not only been noticed by Arsene Wenger.

 

Reports in France suggest that Atletico Madrid and French clubs Monaco and Lille are all monitoring his progress.

And while Arsenal may hope to gazump their rivals with a swoop in January, Nancy are unlikely to want to allow the Moroccan under-20 to leave midway through such a promising promotion campaign.