Laurent Koscielny’s Arsenal career could be over within the next 48 hours with RMC claiming Rennes have stepped up their pursuit of the former France international.

The Gunners had wanted to keep the 34-year-old beyond his current contract, which ends next summer, but in refusing to join the first team squad’s tour of the US, the defender has made his position at the Emirates untenable.

While we’ve not yet stripped him of the captaincy, it’s believed he has been forced to train with the youngsters at London Colney. It was suggested earlier in the summer that a £10 million asking price had been used to ward off potential suitors, including Borussia Dortmund. Given the circumstances, we’re now likely to settle for a much smaller fee.

While we were prepared to offer Koscielny a one-year extension, seemingly on performance-led terms, Bordeaux and Rennes are happy to lure him in with at least a two-year offer. Given his recent injury problems, it’s not wholly surprising that the player is attracted by the security of a longer contract.

The Telegraph reported today that Raul Sanllehi returned from America prematurely to work on Arsenal’s transfer business while French publication Sud Ouest says talks were held throughout the night to thrash out an agreement between the Gunners and Rennes. They even claim a press conference has been organised for tomorrow.