Arsenal to step up interest in Bournemouth winger

Arsenal are to push ahead with plans to sign Bournemouth winger, Ryan Fraser after the Europa League final in Baku.

Unai Emery’s side take on domestic rivals Chelsea in Azerbaijan on May 29 with victory sending them into next season’s Champions League.

Fraser, who is entering the final year of his contract, has had a fine season and the Independent report that the Cherries are planning to hold out for a fee close to £30million for him.

Fraser posted an impressive tally of 14 assists in the Premier League this season which saw him second only to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

The player holds the cards given his contract is closing in on expiry and Bournemouth will likely be reluctant to lose the Scotland international for nothing.

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He joined the club in 2013 from Aberdeen and the Scottish Premiership side would be due 20 per cent of any sale this summer.

A host of clubs in the Premier League top six have kept tabs on Fraser’s progress this season but the Independent’s report suggests Manchester United no longer hold an interest in signing him.

Liverpool are admirers of the player but unlike at the Emirates Stadium, regular first-team matches would be far harder to come by given Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are certain starters when fit.

Back in April, Fraser was quizzed on links to Arsenal and he was lavish in his praise of a ‘huge club’.

“I am not going to lie, it is very nice,” Fraser said at the time. “It means you are doing something right. They are a huge club, a massive club.

“When you see your name thrown around you always think to yourself that you are a Bournemouth player and you try to do well.

“I am not going to lie, you do feel good, especially when it’s a massive club.”

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Arsenal are busy preparing for the Europa League final in the knowledge that it is far and away the biggest game in recent years.

Victory would send them into next season’s Champions League and would represent a major boost to the transfer budget for Emery this season with the added funds.