Arsenal in talks over Sevilla’s Squillaci

MADRID (AFP) – Arsenal are in talks with Sevilla over the transfer of the Spanish club’s French international centre-back Sebastien Squillaci, Sevilla’s sporting director revealed on Thursday.

“The player asked not to play (against Braga in the Champions League play-off round) because of the offer from such a big team but, for the moment, we believe the offer is insufficient and Squillaci is still a Sevilla player,” said Ramon Rodriguez ‘Monchi’ after Sevilla’s 1-0 defeat at Braga on Wednesday.

Spanish sport newspaper AS claimed the transfer could be completed on Thursday for a fee of around eight million euros.

Rival paper Marca was more explicit, stating that Sevilla were waiting for “the English team to put a serious offer on the table”.

Arsenal are in the market for a new centre-back after defenders William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Mikael Silvestre and Philippe Senderos were all allowed to leave the London club at the end of last season.

Arsene Wenger’s side have already signed French centre-back Laurent Koscielny from Lorient for a fee of around 10 million pounds (12.1 million euros).

Squillaci, 30, joined Sevilla from Lyon in 2008 in a deal worth seven million euros.

He was a member of France’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa and played in the team’s final group game, a 2-1 defeat by the hosts.