Arsenal to move for Lorient youngster Alexis Claude-Maurice?

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a summer swoop for Lorient forward Alexis Claude-Maurice.

Claude-Maurice, who is a France Under-20 international, has scored 14 times in 31 appearances for Lorient in the second tier of French football during the 2018-19 campaign.

According to The Mirror, Norwich City were readying a £9m swoop for the youngster as they prepare for a return to the Premier League, but Arsenal have now joined the hunt for the 20-year-old.

The report claims that Claude-Maurice 'fits in Arsenal's budget' this summer, with the Gunners only expected to have around £40m to spend on new signings ahead of the 2019-2020 campaign.

The Frenchman, who can play in a number of different positions in the final third of the field, scored 11 league goals for Lorient's second team before making his first-team debut.

Claude-Maurice has a contract with Les Merlus until the end of the 2020-21 campaign.