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Arsenal close in on Lille striker Gervinho

Lille general manager Frederic Paquet has confirmed striker Gervinho wants to move to England this summer and talks with Arsenal are planned.

Arsenal close in on Lille striker Gervinho
French fancy: Gervinho (centre) wants to join Arsenal Credit: Photo: AFP

Ivory Coast international Gervinho played a key role as Lille won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double last season, contributing 15 goals and 10 assists in the league alone.

Free-spending Paris St Germain have also asked about the 24 year-old, but his current club are not keen on selling to a domestic rival.

Paquet told RMC: "He wants to go and has developed contacts with Arsenal.

"We will soon have talks with them and see what they offer.

"He has expressed a desire to go to England and we will see what happens."

The link with PSG was a non-starter insists Paquet, who added: "Paris St Germain inquired but we are not thinking about strengthening a competitor."

Although Lille will entertain the idea of selling Gervinho, their stance is different on Eden Hazard. Paquet has described the 20-year-old Belgian as "untransferable".