Arsenal and Manchester City monitoring Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir as club begins contract talks

Arsenal are reportedly monitoring young Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir with a view to a move in the future.

According to French newspaper Le10 Sport, the Gunners are interested in signing the young Ligue 1 midfielder, who has been impressive for his club this season.

The 21-year-old has established himself as a key player for Lyon after breaking into the first-team last season. Fekir has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 17 league games this campaign.

Apart from the north London club, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are also said to be tracking the young U21 French international.

But the Lyon attacking midfielder's father has confirmed that if Fekir leaves the Ligue 1 club, he will be able to join Arsenal and develop his game under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger rather than sit on the bench at the Etihad Stadium.

"If he leaves, it will be for Arsenal. It is the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsène Wenger. He will not go to Manchester City to sit on the bench," his father Mohamed Fekir said.

Moreover, the player himself has expressed delight at the Gunners' interest and hopes to play at a big club sometime in the future. But Fekir made it clear that for the moment he is very happy to be playing for his current employers.

But, Lyon are reluctant to let their young and upcoming star leave the club and the report claims that they have begun talks regarding a new and improved deal, despite the midfielder having four more years left on his current contract.

The Ligue 1 club' president Jean-Michel Aulas is adamant that the club keep their young stars, as he believes it is better to develop young players than bring in readymade stars.

"We have a young but talented workforce. Trusting them, we are in the right. In the long term, it will be more profitable than bringing an endless stream of stars. See them play well, it gives off something. Fekir is Messi. It shows right now is really impressive," Aulas said, as quoted by Le10 Sport.