Arsenal Prepare £17m Bid for PSG Midfielder Marco Verratti - Report

Arsenal are preparing a move for PSG midfielder Marco Verratti in the summer, according to the Metro.

The report states that the Gunners are willing to pay up to £17m for his signature with manager Laurent Blanc ready to cash in on the player after the midfielder failed to score in over 50 appearances for the club.

The Italian is being scouted as a replacement for Mikel Arteta, who is likely to make his way out of the club after failing to impress this season. The Spaniard is entering his mid-thirties and is languid on the ball, something which the Gunners can ill afford against quality opposition.

Arsenal have been greatly affected by Arteta's lack of form this season, with the former Everton man showing that he is past his best with mediocre performances against Chelsea and Liverpool where the Gunners were handed an ignominious thrashing.

On the other hand, PSG already have the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Javier Pastore in midfield to cover for Verratti's absence and are unlikely to hold back on a move if the Gunners show an interest.

Verratti's arrival will give Arsenal's defence some much needed cushion in front of their back four which has been missing owing to Arteta's failure to track back. Arsene Wenger is likely to splash the cash in the summer and a defensive midfielder is likely to be hot on his list with Mathieu Flamini unable to make an impact after scripting a return.

Meanwhile Aaron Ramsey has vowed to help his side get into the top four after missing three months due to injury. His absence has turned Arsenal's season around - from being challengers for the title they are now struggling to beat Everton for the fourth spot.

"It was very frustrating for me to be out for three months of the season when things were looking so good," Ramsey told www.arsenal.com.

"These things happen in football and I am just glad to be back out there now. Hopefully I can show what I can do, help this team achieve Champions League football again and hopefully have a medal at the end of the year.

"We have to pick ourselves back up now. We have still got a lot of points to play for. We are in the semi-final of the FA Cup so we have got to put things right.

"We have to put a strong run-in together now. We have five games left and we will aim to win them all to give us the best opportunity to finish fourth or higher," he concluded.