Monday, 2nd January, 2012
Arsenal are ready to rival Newcastle for the signature of Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa according to French radio station RMC.
The 22-year-old has impressed with the southern France outfit, helping Rene Girard’s side to challenge for this season’s Ligue 1 title; Montpellier currently sit second in the standings.
Yanga-Mbiwa has been on Newcastle boss Alan Pardew’s shortlist for some time, with the Magpies manager receiving glowing reports on the defender – now though Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger has identified the Montpellier youth product as a potential acquisition.
Wenger has been rocked by injuries to defenders in recent months and is preparing to bring forward a summer swoop for Yanga-Mbiwa to solve his backline troubles.
The Montpellier captain has admitted that a move to England would be intensely attractive and believes the physical nature of the Premier League would suit his game.
"In terms of the physicality, it’s something good and something I like", said Yanga-Mbiwa.
"Above all, they live for football and that’s what I want to experience one day."
Newcastle have been lining up a £5M bid for the defender and Arsenal would need to match or better that amount to jump ahead of the Magpies in the race Yanga-Mbiwa.
The Montpellier man has clocked up 17 appearances in this season’s Ligue 1, finding the back of the net once in the process.
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