Cheick Doucoure is attracting some serious interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa. Both teams could enter into a race to add Mali international before the transfer window closes, although it would be a disaster for Lens to lose another one of their talented footballers.

The Gunners have already signed Alberto Sambi Lokonga as a cover for their midfield. While their interest in Cheick is genuine, Arsenal are essentially looking at another deep-lying midfielder to join their team to add more defensive steel. The constant injuries to star player Thomas Partey might also be bothering the London club to some extent.

Ghana international’s struggles last term with niggling injuries was played down initially as a first campaign problem. However, his knock in pre-season, which will see the midfielder miss up to 3-4 weeks of action, has led the Gunners to give the issue some thought.

While there is a general feeling, it is just a small blip, some feel Thomas Partey might have become injury prone. Either way, the Gunners feel the need to add steel in midfield and shore up the defensive side of things. Sambi Lokonga has the attributes, but he looks more like a ball carrier and hardly is an all-action star-like Thomas Partey.

This brings the Gunners to the table for Doucoure, who has become an essential part of the current club. Competing with the Gunners for the Malian midfielder’s signature are Aston Villa, who have proven to be tough challengers in recent weeks. The Lions have already made considerable outlay on footballers, with as many as five additions on board this transfer window