Arsenal close in on £15.6m deal for Malaga's Cazorla

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Spain's Santi Cazorla after the maestro agreed terms with the club.

 The versatile Malaga man looks set to complete a move to north London in the coming weeks, a year after first being pursued by Arsene Wenger.

 The Gunners have tabled a bid of around £15.6million for one of La Liga's brightest talents and hope that any deal can be concluded swiftly considering the player's desire to move.

 Cazorla joined Malaga last summer from Villarreal - who were subsequently relegated - but has been in dispute with the club over unpaid wages.

 The financial situation is such that the threat of relegation looms over the Arab-owned club with a hefty tax bill owed to the Spanish government, as well as a number of unfulfilled obligations on transfer repayments.

 And now reports claim the 27-year-old will be the first of the big names out the door to help cover costs.

 Cazorla, who scored four freekicks last season, played in almost every position across the midfield and attack, and would be the third addition to the forward ranks this summer, after Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

 Meanwhile in another boost to Arsenal, Laurent Koscielny has signed a new long-term deal with the club.

Posted in: Arsenal,football,latest sport news,transfer news