Aleksandr Kokorin
Aleksandr Kokorin was linked with a summer move to the Premier League last summer Getty

Aleksandr Kokorin's agent, Cyril Loginov, has revealed Arsenal had a loan bid rejected for the Dynamo Moscow striker during the summer transfer window. Dynamo boss Andrei Kobelev confirmed the news, clarifying the offer was turned down as the side would have preferred to let him go on a permanent deal, a move that may still happen.

The 24-year-old Russia international was linked with a number of big European clubs during the summer transfer window, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Barcelona all mentioned. Arsene Wenger tried to bolster his attack by signing a number 9 in the final days of the mercato, and after first choice Karim Benzema refused to leave Real Madrid the French boss is believed to have turned his sights to Kokorin.

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The Daily Mail has indicated that Arsenal are indeed still monitoring the Dynamo Moscow striker, as well as Celta Vigo sensation Nolito, ahead of possible January moves.

Kokorin's agent has now confirmed the Gunners' interest in his client during the summer, while giving Wenger fresh hope of signing the Russian in the January window.

"Aleksandr still has the chance to move in future, and not just to Arsenal," Loginov was quoted as saying by Russian outlet Sovsport. "If Dynamo refused to give Aleksandr to Arsenal in the last transfer window, it does not mean that he can't be where he wants in the next window. There was a proposal, it was examined and refused."

Dynamo boss Kobelev, added: "There were substantive discussions on Kokorin, but it didn't happen. We vetoed a loan. I believe that Sasha deserves more than a loan."

Meanwhile, Nolito, who is also in the radar of Barcelona, has spoken about the Arsenal interest in securing his services during a long interview with Mundo Deportivo, saying: "Well, you see everyone is asking for me, but I'm still here at Celta...

"What I know is that I'm happy at Vigo. I try to stay out of this as I have four and a half years remaining on my contract at Celta and I must respect my club. I am calm, what has to happen will happen, both in a good way or in a bad way. I'm happy at Vigo, focused on my work, I have targets in my head and I have to keep working."