Claudio Ranieri wants Arsenal youngster

Arsenal teenager midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide has reportedly emerged as a loan target for Claudio Ranieri, who is the head coach of French club Nantes.

The 19-year-old is highly-rated by manager Arsene Wenger, but he is not yet up to the standard to push for a first-team spot. As a result, the Frenchman is open to the prospect of loaning out the teenager to gain valuable first-team experience.

Ligue 1 club Nice have already expressed an interest in the young forward, but according to L'Equipe, Nantes are the frontrunners to pursue his services in the transfer window.

Reine-Adelaide managed six appearances in the Gunners' EFL Cup and FA Cup outings last season, but he played no part in their pre-season as he was nursing an injury.

Arsene Wenger has recently admitted that he will seek to reduce the number of players in his first-team squad before considering the prospect of making a new signing. Reine-Adelaide is currently contracted to the FA Cup holders until the summer of 2019.