LONDON, England, February 13- Arsenal stepped up their interest in Celtic powerhouse midfielder Victor Wanyama on Tuesday night The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph report.
A senior Gunners scout was dispatched to Parkhead for the Champions League clash against Juventus to run the rule over the Kenyan.
Arsenal sources claim the midfielder’s performance in Tuesday’s clash against the Serie A champions would be pivotal in whether Arsene Wenger and his chief scout Steve Rowley decide to solidify their interest in Wanyama, given the higher-calibre opposition.
Wenger will be in the market for a defensive midfielder in the summer after failing to land Toulouse star Etienne Capoue on transfer deadline day.
In addition to Wanyama and Capoue, West Ham’s Momo Diame has also been watched extensively by the Gunners.
Meanwhile, flop Andre Santos is set to be the latest player to become an expensive burden on the club’s wage bill, after the defender vowed to see out his Arsenal contract.
The Daily Telegraph adds Wanyama became the first Kenyan to appear in the Scottish Premier League when he joined Celtic in 2011 and has particularly impressed this season during the club’s progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.
After the summer sale of Alex Song to Barcelona, Wenger is mindful of having become over reliant on Mikel Arteta in the holding role although he has been encouraged by Aaron Ramsey’s recent performances there.
A striker and a right-back are the other priorities this summer, particularly with Bacary Sagna’s increasingly uncertain future.