Arsenal have launched a shock move to sign Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini on a free transfer after he rejected two contract offers to remain at Old Trafford.

The thought of Fellaini signing for the Gunners would have seemed unthinkable under former manager Arsene Wenger, given his age and playing style, but times have changed and the new recruitment team at the Emirates Stadium see the appeal in adding him to the squad.

It is believed new Arsenal boss Unai Emery had been keen to sign the Belgium international when he was Paris Saint Germain manager and his representatives are due to meet with club officials this week. The fact he is available on a free transfer is also attractive to Arsenal given they are understood to have a transfer budget of just £50m this summer after spending heavily in the last two transfer windows.

Arsenal’s head of recruitment Sven Mislintat appears to agree with Emery regarding Fellaini’s appeal and the 30-year-old will be looking to improve on the one-year contract, worth £80,000-a-week, that he has turned down at Manchester United.

According to sources in France, Fellaini would prefer to sign for Arsenal than move to Italy, where a number of clubs, including AC Milan have an interest, although it is thought he is still negotiating with United as well.