Arsenal preparing £45m summer swoop for Lyon and France star Nabil Fekir

Arsenal have reportedly identified France international midfielder Nabil Fekir as their number one transfer target this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

The Premier League side, who currently lie sixth in the top-flight table, have been strongly linked with a £45m swoop for the Lyon star at the end of the current 2017-18 campaign.

The 24-year-old, who has 10 international caps for his country, has scored an impressive 21 goals and provided five assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit so far this season.

Fekir, who has been with Lyon for the entirety of his senior career, has netted 55 goals in 144 games overall for the French club.

Lyon’s Nabil Fekir in action with Villarreal’s Rodri.

However, the report suggests Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is a huge admirer of the goalscoring central midfielder and is ready to launch a £45m bid for the Frenchman this summer.

Fekir is expected to represent his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia this summer, and Arsenal boss Wenger wants to wrap up any potential deal before he flies off to the major tournament.