Gunners target Franck Kessie’s agent admits north London club have made contact with ‘next Yaya Toure’

Several top European clubs are chasing the Ivory Coast international including Juventus and Prem rivals Chelsea.

ARSENAL are tracking Ivory Coast whizkid Franck Kessie in a bid to snap up the ‘next Yaya Toure’.

The Gunners are one of several top European clubs chasing Atlanta midfielder Kessie, 19, according to reports.

Arsene Wenger sent scouts to watch Kessie play against Palermo on Wednesday and reports in Italy claim Premier League rivals Chelsea are also keen.

Kessie’s agent told Goal: “They [Arsenal] were here in Italy to watch him.

“Arsenal are a good team but there are a lot of teams interested in him so they’re not the only possible destination.”

Kessie has scored four goals in five matches this season and has drawn comparisons with Manchester City‘s Toure.

Serie A giants Juventus are reportedly interested in poaching the youngster but Kessie himself recently admitted he dreams of a Manchester United move.

The Ivory Coast international also recently revealed Sunderland came close to signing him this summer.

Meanwhile, Wenger recently revealed German youngster Serge Gnabry snubbed a new contract before leaving Arsenal this summer.

Gnabry, 21, joined Werder Bremen in a deal thought to be worth £5million.

Wenger said: “We didn’t want to get rid of Gnabry, we wanted to keep him. But he was in the last year of his contract.

“We were close to extending his contract but finally he changed his mind and went to Werder Bremen. But I think we taught him a lot and I think if you ask him he would agree with that.”