Liverpool Suffer Blow as Arsenal Agree Personal Terms With Toulouse Defender Serge Aurier

Arsenal's search for a quality right-back looks to have come to end as they have reportedly beaten Liverpool in persuading Serge Aurier to move to the Emirates after agreeing personal terms with the Toulouse star.

A Metro report claims that the Gunners have already agreed a five-year contract with the Ivory Coast international having a wage package worth £60,000-a-week.

The 21-year-old had been linked with a move to Anfield as Brendan Rodgers was thought to be seeking a long-term replacement for Glen Johnson, but Arsenal seem to have stolen a march over the Merseyside club.

On the other hand, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had a huge void to fill following the departure of his first choice right-back Bacary Sagna after seven years.

The French international signed a three-year deal with newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City after refusing to extend his contract at the Emirates.

Earlier this month, Aurier's agent Stephane Courbis, had commented on the situation saying: "There is no agreement with Arsenal. We've talked in past but there has been nothing recently. We're in talks with another English side."

The French newspaper L'Equipe had earlier stated that Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers were also interested in signing Aurier during the summer transfer window.

However, the former Lens star appears to have set his mind on moving to north London after admitting that he would not refuse an offer from Arsenal.

Things appear to be headed for a happy ending for Arsenal as their only remaining task is to agree a fee with Toulouse to kick-start their summer spending spree.

The Metro report also suggests that Wenger is looking to swiftly conclude the deal and has made an opening offer of £8m, waiting for a response from the Ligue 1 outfit's hierarchy.

Meanwhile, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba too heaped praise on Aurier and gave the seal of approval for his prospects of playing in England.

The veteran Ivorian striker's remarks came in the aftermath of his compatriot's impressive performance for Sabri Lamouchi's side in Brazil during their first World Cup fixture against Japan, which ended 2-1 in their favour.

"Serge brought us energy and balance and he had a fantastic game. He's the best right-back in all of France. I think he'll do well at the next level too, in the Premier League," Drogba told Fifa.com.