According to The Mirror, West Ham United are interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin during the January transfer window.

Coquelin, 26, was not included in the Arsenal squad for Sunday's FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest amid suggestions that the Frenchman was close to leaving the club.

A number of Ligue 1 clubs are said to be interested in the defensive midfielder, but West Ham are now strongly being linked with a move.

Coquelin, who is valued at £10.8m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has made over 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal since breaking into the first team, and he appeared on 39 occasions for the Gunners last season.

The former France Under-21 international has struggled to win a regular spot under Arsene Wenger this term, however, and is believed to be on the way out during the winter window.

To suggest that the Arsenal fans welcomed the news would be putting it mildly, with many revealing their delight that Coquelin could soon be seeking pastures new.

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