Arsenal preparing transfer bid for St Etienne starlet Kurt Zouma

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has instructed his head scout in France, Gilles Grimandi, to prepare a full report on St-Etienne's star defender Kurt Zouma. The centre back is expected to become one of the best defenders of all time by many pundits in France.

In Ligue 1, Zouma has already been an important member of the first team for Les Verts since 2011 back when the player made his debut at the age of just 17-years-old. The player is now admired by many of Europe's biggest teams, with Paris St Germain and Monaco reportedly attempting to secure a transfer deal for the young defender last summer.


However, Arsenal are now the new favourites to complete a deal for Zouma, with the Gunners reportedly looking to sign the 19-year-old as soon as possible and groom him to become an eventual replacement for one of either Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny. Thomas Vermaelen is currently the third choice centre back at Arsenal and there remains plenty of talk of a transfer away for the Belgian defender and the Gunners could move as quickly as next summer to find a potential replacement for Vermaelen.


Zouma, who is a French youth international and recently forced his way into France's under-21 side, is very highly rated by many at Les Verts but the club expect the defender will eventually leave for a move elsewhere. 


Arsenal are ready to spend big for the player, with talk of an 18 million Euro bid for the teenager.