Arsenal veteran approached over career swansong at Ligue 1 outfit

Laurent Koscielny has been offered the chance to end his career back in his homeland with Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, according to reports in the French media.

The 33-year-old centre-half has just 12 months left on his Arsenal contract and his future remains up in the air amid reports Gunners boss Unai Emery could allow him to move on if an acceptable offer comes in.

Emery has targeted a new centre-half as one of his priority positions to strengthen this summer and has been linked with ambitious moves for Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti, though hopes of a deal for Sampdoria’s Joachim Andersen have suffered a blow amid reports he favours a switch to AC Milan.

Koscielny is said to be open to the prospect of one final challenge before hanging up his boots, leading to reports that a number of Ligue 1 sides are said to be pondering swoops for the centre-half, who joined Arsenal in a bargain £8.45m deal from Lorient back in summer 2010.

And now, according to L’Equipe, Rennes have become the first of those sides to make a solid move, with the club making contact with the player and his agent to see if the move would interest him.

The French paper claims the Brittany-based outfit are looking for an experienced head to marshall their backline next season and that Koscielny fits the bill.

Little is known about what Arsenal value the defender at, but with 12 months left on his deal, it’s thought an offer of around £6million would tempt them to sell and give Emery that little bit more to add to his summer transfer kitty.

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