Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners' Next Target is M'Vila with Bid of £17M - Report

Arsene Wenger apparently means business... transfer business... ahead of next season.

The beleaguered Gunners boss appeared to have finally understood his beloved club badly needed an infusion of new blood, in the aftermath of the shocking 2-8 demolition by fierce rivals Manchester United, earlier in the season. That defeat must have been a catalyst of sorts for it signalled, within hours almost, the incoming transfers of Per Mertesacker, Yossi Benayoun (on loan from Chelsea), Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young and Mikel Arteta.

It now appears Wenger is going a step further in his preparations for next season and working on summer signings as early as possible.

According to a report in The Sun, pursuit of long-time midfield target Yann M'Vila, 21, could be next on the cards, after the player openly confessed his interest in working with Wenger.

The French holding midfielder, who plays for Ligue 1 side Rennes, is valued by his side at approximately £20m. On the face of it, this would be a rather hefty sum for a normally frugal Wenger to part with. However, recent comments about the need for quality signings suggests the manager may, at last, be willing to spend the big bucks; indeed the club has been urging him to do just that for some time now.

Wenger's earlier bid of £10m was rejected and now a bid in the region of £17m is being spoken about. If the transfer does come through, then it will be the second relatively big-money signing Arsenal will make, for next season, in recent days. German forward Lukas Podolski's transfer, for £11m, has been all but confirmed.

Meanwhile, M'Vila has admitted he would prefer linking up with his compatriot at the Emirates, despite reportedly also being wanted by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

"If it is Wenger who asks you and wants you then of course that changes things," the player said in The Sun report.

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