Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal fail in their £8.5m bid to sign Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny
Arsenal have failed to sign Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny, despite raising their bid to £8.5m, according to sources in France.[LNB]It is believed the bid was dependent on a number of clauses rather than being a straight cash offer and the French club are believed to want at least £7m up front.[LNB]They have already rejected a bid of little over £4m from the Gunners for the 24-year-old centre half.[LNB] Wanted man: Laurent Koscielny (left) in action against Montpellier last month[LNB]Arsene Wenger is prepared to sanction the season-long loan to Lorient of promising midfielder Francis Coquelin in a bid to keep negotiations open.[LNB]Lorient paid Tours less than £1.5m for Koscielny last year, but he has received rave reviews and interest from across Europe.[LNB]Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to face renewed competition from Rennes for long-standing target Loic Remy.[LNB]Gilles Grimandi has scouted the 23-year-old for the Gunners, although a price-tag approaching £15m has been off-putting.[LNB]Rennes are eyeing the Nice striker as a potential replacement for Lyon-bound Jummy Briand.[LNB]But Lyon have a buyback clause on Remy and have not rulled out signing both him and Briand.[LNB] Cesc Fabregas battle not over as Barcelona refuse to back down after Arsenal reject £29m bidCampbell taking his time as Celtic try to land Arsenal's veteran defenderARSENAL FC
