Arsenal and Liverpool have emerged as rivals for Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate, according to the player's agent.
The 24-year-old nearly joined the Gunners after impressing at the Olympics for Senegal, but the Premier League team could not obtain a work permit.
However, the centre-back now qualifies for a Belgian passport and looks likely to leave Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in the near future.
"I have been in talks with representatives from Liverpool and Arsenal over Cheikhou Kouyate," the Daily Star quotes Saffet Balkan as saying.
"Arsenal are very interested in Kouyate. It's very likely that he'll be joining a Premier League club soon."
Kouyate left ASC Yego Dakar to join Brussels in 2008 before moving to Anderlecht two years later.
