No going anywhere: Toulouse snubbed bids for Etienne Capoue from Arsenal and Tottenham (Picture: Getty)

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham both failed with last-minute, deadline day bids for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue according to the player’s agent.

The news was hinted at by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his weekly press conference, after the Frenchman admitted he was close to bringing in a new player only for the deal to collapse at the last minute.

And it appears that player was Capoue, with Arsenal and their bitter rivals both known to be long-term admirers of the midfield enforcer.

‘We were close to one more signature,’ admitted Wenger, apparently in reference to Capoue.


‘It was not a money problem – it was more a desire from the other club to keep their player.’

International class: Capoue is an established France international worth around £15million (Picture: Getty)

Those comments tally with Capoue’s agent Mino Raiola, who says his client was a target for the Gunners and Tottenham on transfer deadline day but Toulouse refused to do business.



‘Arsenal, Tottenham and PSG were interested in Capoue,’ said Raiola, who also hinted at the saga continuing when the next transfer window opens in June.

‘Maybe it is one for next summer. The Toulouse president didn’t need to sell during this window. The asking price was a barrier every time.’

Capoue had previously been a target for QPR but it is thought that losing Moussa Sissoko to Newcastle earlier in the window meant the 24-year-old was never for sale.