Arsenal eye French youngster Maxence Caqueret

Arsenal have deployed scouts to monitor the progress of Lyon youth team player Maxence Caqueret. The intelligent midfielder is considered one of the best up and coming prospects in France and the Gunners are believed to be in advanced negotiations with Lyon representatives regarding a transfer move in the summer.

Maxence Caqueret has been a first-team regular for Lyon's 'B' team side in recent campaigns and has a contract up until June of 2020. It is understood that Arsenal and Lyon are still some way off of matching a price, but Arsenal have offered around 8 million euros and Lyon are looking for closer to 14 million euros.

Caqueret has come through the ranks at Lyon and there are high hopes that he would push into Lyon's first team this year, but has as yet failed to make the breakthrough.

The recent emergence of Matteo Guendouzi at Arsenal has inspired a generation of youngsters in France, all of whom look up to Arsenal due to long-term links with the likes of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger. Arsenal manager Unai Emery hopes to capitalize on that interest and sign one of France's best talents.