Arsenal seal deal for Koscielny

(GSM) – Arsenal have reached an agreement with Lorient to sign Laurent Koscielny.

The French centre-half will replace William Gallas who is out of contract at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger agreed to a €8.5 million fee with Lorient after weeks of haggling and having two other bids knocked back.

Koscielny, 24, will sign a four-year deal worth £25,000 a week and form a pair with Belgian international Thomas Vermaelen.

A Lorient insider told The Sun: “The clubs have a deal in principle and an announcement should be made in the next few days.”