Sevilla director of football Joaquin Caparros has suggested that Arsenal will have to activate a release clause in Steven N’Zonzi’s contract if they want to sign him.
Arsenal have long been linked with the former Stoke and Blackburn midfielder, who has been touted for a return to the Premier League.
The Gunners were said to be keen on N’Zonzi long before the recent appointment of new manager Unai Emery, who it’s claimed is keen to take him to the Emirates Stadium.
N’Zonzi played under him at Sevilla before Emery left the Spanish club to take over at Paris St-Germain.
The player has a €40m (around £35m) release clause and Caparros has reportedly told radio in Seville that his club will not sell for less than that amount.
Caparros has been quoted as saying: “As a successful man, Unai Emery knows what line the club keeps.
“If he wants N’Zonzi, he will have to call and put the bid in. And the bid is the clause.
“If you put that bid in, then there are no more negotiations.”
France international N’Zonzi, 29, has been with Sevilla since they signed him from Stoke in 2015.
He spent three years with the Potters and the previous three with Blackburn.