Liverpool and Arsenal Boosted in Chase for French International

Liverpool and Arsenal have been encourage their battle to sign Marseillse playmaker Mathieu Valbuena as the French international has suggested that he will be open to a move in the summer.

The 29-year-old attacking midfielder put pen to paper on a new deal until 2017 at Marseille last year, but reports in France claim that after eight seasons at the Ligue 1 side he is keen to have an experience abroad, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Spanish side Atletico Madrid reportedly interested in acquiring his services.

Valbuena has increased speculation about a potential summer move by refusing to commit his future to his current club.

"I cannot assure whether this is my last season here. I think it's too early to say that. Today, I don't want to talk about my future. Do not put the cart before the horse.

I still have goals to achieve at Marseille and in summer I hope to play the World Cup. Afterwards we will see," Valbuena is quoted by Le 10 Sport.

The diminutive midfielder is a pivotal player for the French side and also for his national team, playing on both sides of midfield, in the middle and also further forward.

Liverpool and Arsenal were linked with him during the latest January window but the player refused to move away in mid-season as he wanted to continue playing regular football to increase his options of making the trip to Brazil.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger may be tempted to renew their attemps for the player next summer, with French reports suggesting that Marseille will let him go for a fee around £10m.

Meanwhile, Wenger sees the player as a versatile midfielder to bolster his squad, offering alternatives to cover absences like the ones he has suffered this season due to Theo Walcott's and Aaron Ramsey's injuries.