Wenger after Vermaelen partner

(GSM) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to make a £10million bid for Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Malickou Diakhate. According to the Daily Mirror, Wenger wants to make the Senegalese his first new signing of his Arsenal revolution.

Having already signed Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux on a free transfer, Wenger has moved to sign a long-term partner for Thomas Vermaelen in Diakhate.

Diakhate, who stands at 6ft, is currently on loan at St Etienne. The 25-year-old defender has been linked to a host of clubs including Juventus, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

But the Dynamo Kive defender seems to be on the verge of moving to the Emirates with Arsenal’s William Gallas refusing to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

Wenger has been linked in the past with Fulham’s Brede Hangeland and Borussia Dortmund’s rising Serbian star Neven Subotic.

But with Diakhate, Wenger will have a versatile six-footer who can serve as a left-back and as a defensive midfielder.

Diakhate also holds an EU passport having come through the ranks at French club Nancy.