Nabil Fekir will join Arsenal over Manchester City, according to player's father

Arsenal will beat Manchester City to the signing Nabil Fekir, if the France Under-21 international leaves Lyon in the future, according to the player's father.

Fekir is among the hottest young players in European football who, after playing a more prominent part in the Lyon first team, has scored six goals in 14 appearances for the Ligue 1 side.

The player has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal of late, with the 21-year-old admitting himself that he would be tempted by a switch to north London if the opportunity arose.

But any fears Arsenal had that champions City could gazump them in their attempts to secure a deal for Fekir have been eased after the player's father admitted the opportunity to work under Arsène Wenger would be too good an opportunity to turn down.

"Nabil would like to finish first or second and play Champions League football with Lyon," Mohamed Fekir told Le Parisien.

"If he leaves, it will be for Arsenal. It is the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsène Wenger. He will not go to Manchester City to sit on the bench."

Speaking earlier this month, Fekir said: "Arsenal? It's a pleasure to know that clubs are interested. But for now I'm well at OL. I'm an ambitious person. I hope I'll get to play in a big club one day. It's a dream. I hope I'll be able to realise it someday."

Wenger is expected to make at least one signing in the January transfer window however, though Fekir is unlikely to leave Lyon next month, the Frenchman is likely to concentrate on improving a wafer-thin defence.

Amid an injury crisis at the Emirates Stadium, Wenger has had just six senior defenders to call upon this season which has contributed to a difficult start to a campaign which see them off the pace in the title race.