Arsenal are considering a tour of Nigeria this year.

The Guardian says Arsenal are giving serious consideration to undertaking a close-season tour of Nigeria, as they continue the effort to grow the club as a global brand and to capitalise upon it in commercial terms.

The board of directors is aware of the club's tremendous popularity in the African country, which is due, in large part, to the Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu, who played for Arsenal between 1999 and 2004.

The directors are in discussions about the prospective tour, which would take place in July, at the beginning of pre-season, and be similar in length and intensity to the one that they made to east Asia last July.