Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger admits watching Leicester City midfielder N'Golo Kante

Arsene Wenger has made Leicester City star N'Golo Kante his primary midfield target for the summer transfer window, with Borussia Monchengladbach skipper Granit Xhaka also being an option. The Arsenal boss is looking to overhaul his squad following a disappointing Premier League campaign and will make a move for the PFA player of the year nominee.

According to the Sun, the French manager is keen to bolster his midfield ahead of next season, as he looks to replace the defensive midfield duo Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, who are likely to leave following the expiry of their contracts. The Gunners' midfield was found wanting on a number of occasions during the course of the season, and the manager will be keen to add some pace and power to compliment the guile of Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil.

Wenger has praised the French international midfielder, who joined the Foxes in the summer in a £5.6m ($8.1m) deal from Caen, and admitted that he has been following his career from an early age, while also watching him on a number of occasions during the current campaign. Kante has gone on to play a key role as Caludio Ranieri's men close in on the Premier League title and was among the finalists for the PFA player of the year, but lost out to teammate Riyad Mahrez, who is also reportedly a target for Arsenal.

"I know him. You look at his career, you will be amazed. He has always adapted to the level where he was," Wenger said, as quoted by The Sun.

"One of my best friends in life knows him since he was ten years old, and he spoke to me about him."

"We went to watch him and we saw he had quality. But I didn't know he would come so quickly to England."

"He played in Suresnes in Paris at the age of nine, ten years old. After he went to Boulogne as an amateur, they didn't want to sign him pro. After, he went to Brest, I think, after to Caen, and then he came finally to England," the Frenchman added.

The midfielder has welcomed interest from the big clubs, and Arsenal are set to face a battle for his signature. According to the Mirror, Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all keen on landing his signature.