Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will bid for St Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

The Daily Mail says Wenger is ready to step up his summer-long pursuit of Matuidi, with Cesc Fabregas facing three weeks out after aggravating a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth.

Saint-Etienne sporting director Damien Comolli has spent the summer insisting the £5million-rated midfielder, who has drawn comparisons with Patrick Vieira, is not for sale, but Wenger has not been put off.