Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny snubs club’s desperate offer of peace talks and remains determined to leave
LAURENT KOSCIELNY has snubbed peace talks with Arsenal and remains resolute that he will quit the club.
The Gunners captain is demanding a move back to France and went on strike by refusing to go on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA last month.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery threw out an olive branch to the central defender with a view to him being in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener against Newcastle.
But the France international, 33, rejected an offer to hold talks with a view to him staying another season in England.
Bordeaux are trying to bring Koscielny back to France in a three-year deal, with Rennes also interested in the veteran defender.
Emery has exhausted avenues as he tries to get cover for his ailing back line.
RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano is available for £50million but Arsenal have already spent most of their budget on £72m winger Nicolas Pepe.
Emery had hoped to do a loan deal for Juventus star Daniele Rugani but this was snubbed.
With Rob Holding out injured and Mustafi not a favourite with fans, Emery only really has Callum Chambers, Sokratis and Nacho Monreal at his disposal to start against Toon.
New £27m defender William Saliba has been loaned back to St Etienne for the season.
With the transfer window shutting on Thursday, a loan deal looks the best option to give the Gunners more options at the back.
Koscielny is refusing to play for the club ever again.
He was furious by Arsenal’s stance on a new contract and wanted an extra year on top of his existing 12 months.
But the club would only offer a performance-related deal.
Koscielny has been training with the under-23s since then.
And the rift has just got wider.