Arsene Wenger gives go-ahead to sign French defender

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly prepared to trigger the release clause of Eibar defender Florian Lejeune.

The French footballer joined the Spanish minnows in the summer of 2016 after he failed to make the cut with Premier League side Manchester City.

According to The Mirror, Wenger is willing to sanction an £8.7m move for Lejeune irrespective of where his commitment lies beyond the summer.

The central defender has made immense progress in his short stint in Ipurua, and his progress has captured the attention of Wenger, who sees him in the mold of Laurent Koscielny.

Koscielny came through the lower ranks in France before making his way to north London in 2010, and Wenger feels Lejeune could earn a similar recognition with the Gunners.

Lejeune also has the potential to feature as a holding midfielder, and his versatility could provide Arsenal with additional depth in the centre of the park.

The 25-year-old has earned the third-most playing time among all Eibar players during the ongoing La Liga campaign.