Arsenal to make late bid for St Etienne's Matuidi

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.