• Premier League

Wenger eyes summer swoop for Montpellier's Belhanda

ESPN staff
March 12, 2012
Younes Belhanda has attracted the attention of Arsene Wenger © Getty Images
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda.

Amid reports of a deal for Germany striker Lukas Podolski, Wenger has turned his attentions to the highly-rated Morocco international.

Belhanda has already expressed his desire to play in the Premier League next season, and Montpellier revealed recently they would consider selling their star man in the summer, but have slapped a £15 million price tag on him.

"I know Younes well and like him a lot," Wenger said. "But I don't want to cause problems. Only Montpellier can decide where he goes."

Belhanda has also been linked with Serie A side AC Milan and French giants Paris St Germain, but the 22-year-old has already suggested he would be well suited to Arsenal.

"Milan, I know nothing about. I think it is just rumours," he said recently. "My dream is to play in England or Germany. Everybody wants to play in the Premier League and there are some great clubs like Arsenal, which is almost a French club," he told French TV station TF1.

"Germany has a lot of big clubs who deliver good performances in the Champions League. The atmosphere in the stadium is magnificent too."

However Belhanda conceded that a big move may not materialise this summer.

"I am focused on Montpellier now because it is the club that gave me fame, I can stay here for two or three years to come," he added.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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