Source: PA
Gunners close in on Koscielny deal
Arsenal are on the verge of completing a £10million deal for French defender Laurent Koscielny from Lorient.
Press Association Sport understands a move will be officially confirmed by the Gunners within the next 24 hours, possibly even later today.
Arsene Wenger has tracked the 24-year-old for some time, as Koscielny, who is also eligible to play for Poland, impressed in the French domestic league.
The Gunners boss is in need of cover at the back, with Sol Campbell mulling over a new one-year deal and fellow veterans William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre set to leave after the end of their contracts.
Koscielny is expected to team up with the Arsenal players who have returned to the club's Hertfordshire training complex this week ahead of the traditional pre-season friendly at Barnet on July 17, although those who have been in international action will get extra time off, with captain Cesc Fabregas - a target for Barcelona - looking to join Dutch striker Robin van Persie in the World Cup final.
Wenger has already secured the capture of long-term target Marouane Chamakh, the Morocco striker, to bolster the Arsenal attack, which could be missing Nicklas Bendtner ahead of their opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season at Liverpool on August 15.
