transfer news

Arsenal set to sign Koscielny

July 7, 2010
By Soccernet staff

Arsenal are set to confirm the signing of defender Laurent Koscielny from Lorient.

Laurent Koscielny
GettyImagesLaurent Koscielny is set to confirm his move to Arsenal

Arsenal have been tracking Koscielny for some time, but it appears a £10 million deal has now been agreed and the move is set to be completed in the near future.

Serge Areguian, Lorient's director general, said in the Guardian: "The deal has not been confirmed because there are some administrative details to be validated. It will be made official in the hours or days to come."

Lorient have signed 21-year-old Gabon international Bruno Ecuele Manga from newly-promoted Angers to replace Koscielny.

"The timing is perfect," Lorient boss Christian Gourcuff said. "The arrival of Bruno is not a coincidence. We have been following him for two years and when it became known that Arsenal were interested in Laurent, we became active."