Arsenal are interested in signing a new central midfielder before the transfer deadline later this month.
The Gunners are very short in the midfield department right now, with Mohamed Elneny at the Africa Cup of Nations and Thomas Partey now facing a one-match suspension.
Granit Xhaka is set to return from his suspension after the international break. Ainsley Maitland-Niles was allowed to join AS Roma on loan earlier in the month.
Mikel Arteta now wants to bring in another midfielder with football.london understanding that Juventus man Arthur Melo is a top target, with talks ongoing over a possible loan move.
However, one man that could also be an option for Arsenal is Lille midfielder Renato Sanches. The 24-year-old has 18 months remaining on his contract at the Stade Pierre Mauroy and continues to be linked with an exit.
Now, according to Sport Italia, Sanches is feeling ready to embark on a new chapter in his career and leave the French club, with reported interest from Arsenal.
What has Sanches said?
Speaking to L'Equipe, via the Mirror, last month, Sanches hinted that Arsenal, as well as AC Milan, are interested in his services.
He said: "Who is interested in me? Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested, but I do not know. I talked to my agent, I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but now I cannot tell. But I know I'm ready. If it happens, I'll see what is best for me.
"Milan? It's a great club, a historic club. It is classy. I like it. I was supposed to go to Barcelona in the summer, then my injury blew everything up. Leave in January? I know I am ready if an offer comes in."
Just before those comments, Sanches insisted he is "ready" to join a huge club once again after a failed spell at Bayern Munich.
He said: "When I arrived at Bayern, I was not ready to play in such a club. I was very young. And when I got ready, the opportunity to play with this team never came.
"Today, I feel ready. I understand football better, I have more experience, I know what to do to play in this kind of club and that does change everything."
Sanches has featured 13 times for Lille in the French top-flight so far this season - with the Portugal international scoring the one goal and providing three assists along the way.
