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Gilles Sunu is ready to follow compatriot Francis Coquelin back to France for the coming season, with the rapid forward eying a second loan spell. The former Châteauroux prospect signed a new two-year-contract at the end of last season, following a short spell with Derby County in the Championship.

Sunu’s development has been ramped up in the last 12 months, with a Carling Cup start and a appearance in the Champions League all key in building the promising Frenchman’s experience. In February he joined Derby County on loan and impressed, with one goal and a bag full of assists in nine matches before injury.

Speaking to FootMercato.net, the 19-year-old revealed the advice given to him by Arsene Wenger before making the switch to the Rams.

“He said he’d fit me in more with the first team for future matches but at my age most important thing is to play every week. And if it is not possible this year with Arsenal, I prefer to go on loan.”

With the news yesterday that the Reserves has been disbanded, those ineligible for Under 18 football will either need to step up to the first-team or go on loan. The former is the first priority, but the route Francis Coquelin has already taken this year, going on loan in Ligue One, is a viable option.

“If Arsenal want to count on me, my main goal is to have more playing time at the club. Otherwise, I leave on loan again, but this time in France, a bit like the situation with Francis Coquelin. My priority is to return to France.”

The smart free betting has been on a switch to either Bordeaux or Sochaux in the French media, with his future poised to be agreed upon his return from the UEFA Under 19 European Championships later this month.

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Samuel Galindo will become an Arsenal player at midnight tonight. The Bolivian youngster has penned a four-year-contract with the Gunners, but will be leaving loan after the club failed to win a work permit for the 18-year-old.

Galindo has been training with Arsène Wenger’s first team since January, when Arsenal stole a march on Everton to secure a provisional deal. However, the move wasn’t sealed as officials wanted to look further into allegations of “age cheating” which originated in the Bolivian press. After satisfying themselves that the youngster was the correct age, the transfer window had shut.

The 6’3 powerhouse signed a development contract in March, meaning he would be added to the payroll at the club but he couldn’t play any games. Instead, he trained with the first-team, and was even snapped taking part in a 5 on 5 training match before the Champions League clash with Barcelona.

In May Samuel returned to Bolivia to complete the paperwork required to apply for a Spanish visa, although an application for a work permit for him to join the club now was also lodged. It was refused, and now a loan spell in Spain is imminent. Arsenal initially promised Salamanca the chance to sign the player, but Samuel revealed to ‘La Gaceta de Salamanca’ that plans have now changed:

“Two weeks ago it seemed clear that I was going to go to Salamanca, but Arsenal have told me that they now want me to go to Celta.”

A fee of around €500,000 has changed hands with Real America for the Bolivia Under 20 captain. The left footed attacking midfielder possess a box-to-box style and can play either in the centre, behind a striker, or on the wing.

Arsenal have released five players from the Reserves and Youth ranks. Kerrea Gilbert, Luke Ayling, Sam Byles, Rhema Obed and James Dunn are all out of contract with the Gunners from midnight tonight.

All have now become free agents, except for Luke Ayling, who will complete his transfer to Yeovil Town, as agreed two months ago. Journeyman right back Kerrea Gilbert will also head to pastures new after a succession of failed loan spells, although he did appear to be on the cusp of a first-team return, with a selection of Carling Cup run outs. However, Kerrea struggled during a loan spell with Peterborough United in the closing stages of the season.

Under 18 trio Byles, Obed and Dunn were told they would be released in March, and are still seeking alternative employment. The pair all began the season as regulars for Steve Bould’s Premier Academy League winning outfit, but they struggled to impose themselves.

Official confirmation is expected in the morning.

Arsenal have spoken to the agent of Benfica defender Rafik Halliche, according to reports in France. The 23-year-old is currently on holiday after featuring for Algeria at the World Cup, but a meeting has been planned with the players agent to discuss his availability in the coming days.

Halliche joined Benfica after impressing for Algerian outfit Hussein Dey, and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most promising young centre backs. The Portuguese outfit sent him on loan to Nacional for two seasons to gain vital experience, and although he sustained some niggling injuries, Rafik largely impressed.

Arsene Wenger has been commentating on Algeria’s matches during this World Cup, and instructed an official to seek talks with the appropriate representatives. Now, according to sources close to Chronofoot.com, Arsenal have booked Halliche’s agent into a hotel room in North London and want to hold further talks regarding a potential transfer.

It’s thought that the powerful centre half would join fellow youngster Håvard Nordtveit in battling for a first-team place, should the Gunners decide to press on with a bid.

Arsenal will attempt to win a work permit for Pedro Botelho in the coming weeks, in a bid to finally bring the versatile Brazilian to North London. The 20-year-old has spent the last three seasons plying his trade in Spain, to earn the criteria needed for a E.U citizenship visa.

Botelho has just completed a season-long-loan with Celta Vigo in the Spanish Segunda, where he made 27 appearances, scoring once. He was also instrumental in the Celta side which reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Del Rey, even winning a last minute penalty which sent Villareal crashing out.

It was the highlight of the campaign, despite scoring the winner against Girona. A spat with the manager in May proved to be the final act of his career with Celta, as he was told to keep away from training and left out of the squad consistently. It meant that his spell in Spain, with both Celta and UD Salamanca, both ended in controversy.

Pedro told reporters in early June that he plans to meet Arsenal to discuss the future. That’s set to happen in the coming days with the club still keen to recall the player. Should they fail to win a work permit, the future looks extremely cloudy. A fourth season on loan is possible, but should a substantial bid arrive, a transfer away is likely.

Arsenal are currently involved in attempting to win a work permit for Bolivian starlet Samuel Galindo.

Laurent Koscielny is close to completing his transfer to Arsenal. Arsène Wenger has given the green light to the switch after finally looking over Lorient’s re-negotiated offer. The defender is now thrashing out a contract with Ivan Gazidis.

The transfer will cost Arsenal upwards of €10 million euros, and will include an indirect youth link up. Both sides plan on a long term future developing prospects and trading training methods, with Francis Coquelin’s season-long-loan a taster of what could be a promising relationship.

Koscielny was not present as Christian Gourcuff’s outfit returned to pre-season training today. He instead stayed behind to finalise a contract with Arsenal. As revealed on Young Guns previously, the Gunners agreed a fee last week, yet Lorient wanted to re-negotiate the terms of the payment. The agreement was then delayed due to Wenger leaving his mobile phone behind, but that’s now been fixed and agreed.

A spokesman for Lorient confirmed the details, but said confirmation of the transfer would not come before Thursday.

A selection of highly rated youngsters have come and gone at Arsenal, but few head to pastures new with regrets from the coaching staff. Ryan Garry is one of those. The Hornchurch born defender showed every promise he could be a top level centre back, but years of frustrating and unlucky injuries saw his top level career end prematurely.

Garry was noted as the star of the 1999-2000 scholars, having impressed in the youth team as a versatile and cultured defender. He continued his development and after signing professional forms, he made his first-team debut against Sunderland in the Carling Cup. Although he suffered from a selection of minor injuries, Ryan earned his Premier League debut in the now legendary 6–1 win over Southampton. The game marked the start of the 49 unbeaten run.

That 90 minutes and a scattering of youth appearances for England proved to be the only highlight of his career. For the next four campaigns he would experience awful luck with shin splints and although he twice looked to have over come the problems, the issues returned after three Reserve run outs. Ahead of the 2007-2008 season, Ryan was not offered a new contract and was released.

With such a strong reputation as a quality centre half before his fitness problems, there was no shortage of potential suitors. Garry decided to join Bournemouth on a 6 month deal in which he aimed to prove he could remain injury free and be a useful asset. Although he had a slow start, he completed the Christmas period as a regular and penned a new deal to the end of the season. However, the bad luck continued as he suffered a broken leg and missed the end of the term.

Bournemouth kept faith in their man and handed him a new, longer term contract. He impressed and featured more and more in the side. To date Ryan has over 60 appearences under his belt and he will look forward to featuring in League One next season after the Cherries won promotion.

Nacer Barazite is set to meet with Arsène Wenger when Arsenal return to pre-season training. The Dutchman is seeking reassurances over his future after completing the season in the Reserves following shoulder surgery.

Barazite returned from a season long loan with Derby County 12 months ago, with the expectation that he would kick on into the first team. His usual star performance and goal against Barnet in pre-season appeared to signal the start of his first-team career, but he failed to make the squad for the annual training camp in Austria. However, he did complete 20 minutes in the Carling Cup victory over West Brom before injuring his shoulder playing for Holland’s Under 21’s.

The 20-year-old opted for advanced surgery on his shoulder, after missing large spells of action with previous dislocations. It ruled him out for three months, but the maturity Nacer showed to take the decision based on long term benefits earned him in house praise.

A second loan spell is potentially on the cards, with murmurs that UD Salamanca are preparing to launch a bid to bring the winger to Spain. Yet ‘Naz’ is keen to find out what role he plays in the long term future. In July he will still have two years left on his contract and with injury problems now firmly behind him, the Dutchman enters a key stage of his career.

Barazite is in a similar position to that of Håvard Nordtveit, with both set to be assessed in pre-season as to whether they can make the grade or if further education needed on loan is needed. Nordtveit indicated a short term switch to a Premier League club would be ideal, and Nacer would also favour this.

The talented flyer has a huge reputation in Europe and should Wenger and player both decide to part company, a large number of potential suitors would be keen to take him on.

Arsenal are set to open negotiations with Hajduk Split in a bid to prize away 15-year-old Ivan Džoni, according to the players father. Vilson Džoni claims first-team coach Boro Primorac has been in touch and signalled the club’s imminent interest in signing the Croatian Under 17 captain.

Vilson, who is a coach and part time scout at Hajduk, has left any potential deal down to the two clubs, but he would prefer his son to remain in Croatia. First-team opportunities have already been promised if Ivan continues his rapid rate of development.

“I was very surprised when the national team manager Ivan Gudelj told me that Boro Primorac has called him to talk about my son, and how Arsenal wants to open talks with Hajduk to sign Ivan. Sure, we are very flattered by interest of such a huge club, but we would like him to stay here at Hajduk and make a name for himself.”

“If Hajduk finds it’s own interest in selling Ivan to Arsenal, then we will consider it.”

Džoni is pacy striker who can play as either a penalty box poacher, or in a more creative role just behind a number 9. At 5’9 he may not be the tallest, but Ivan has been noted for his power in the air. Arsenal are believed to be keen to offer a three year scholarship contract with the option of a sell on clause to Hajduk.

Croatian football is certainly on the rise and with a selection of talented youngsters making moves, most notably with Inter Milan and Dinamo Zagreb snapping up prospects, prices are on the increase in Europe.