Arsenal are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window, but links to potential arrivals continue.
It's no secret that the Gunners are expected to do plenty of business between now and deadline day, with bolstering the central midfield area a top priority for manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu.
And prior to the window officially opening earlier in the month, the likes of Ruben Neves, Sander Berge and Yves Bissouma had all been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
But last week Arsenal made their move for highly-rated Anderlecht and Belgium midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Despite having a £12.9m bid rejected, the Gunners are expected to return with an improved offer in an attempt to wrap up this deal fairly quickly.
With that said, it would appear that Lokonga may not be the only midfielder on Arteta and Edu's radar.
If reports in Italy are to be believed, then AC Milan's Franck Kessie has once again emerged as a transfer target for the north London outfit.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Arsenal are leading the race to sign the Ivory Coast international who has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the San Siro.
In addition, the report states that Milan could be forced to sell Kessie - who is valued at £42m - this summer if he does not agree to sign a new deal.
It would not be the first time Kessie has been a rumoured target for Arsenal.
Back in the summer of 2019 when Unai Emery was in charge, The Sun claimed that Gunners were 'closely monitoring' the player's situation prior to sealing a permanent move to AC Milan from fellow Serie A side Atalanta.
So two years on from first scouting Kessie, Arsenal could finally complete a £42m transfer for the 'next Yaya Toure' amid former Italy international Antonio Cassano's comparison.
"I want Kessie in my team, he scores, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he is intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, against Roma he was devastating," he said, as per Sempremilan.com.
"He reminds me of the Yaya Toure of the best times. He is a different player, but in terms of impact. He is holding Milan’s midfield alone."
