Laurent Koscielny looks set to leave Arsenal this summer, with manager Unai Emery suggesting the defender is not in his plans for the new season.
The 33-year-old defender refused to take part in the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the United States as he looks for a way out of the club.
Koscielny, who was named club captain last season, is said to be keen to return to his homeland and asked Arsenal to cancel his contract a year early so he could complete a free transfer away from the club – which was denied.
He has been linked to several Ligue 1 clubs, with Bordeaux coach Paulo Sousa confirming an interest, but Rennes president Olivier Letang insisted his club have not been in contact since a tentative enquiry in early June.
But it seems he has no future in the Gunners team, with Emery insisting he will ‘only work with players who want to be here’.
Speaking after Arsenal’s pre-season defeat to Real Madrid in Washington, the boss said: “I tried to continue working and finding one solution between the club, between him and us.
“When he decided not to come here with us on tour, the solution is now only for the club and him.
“He decided to be out. I respect him but I have a responsibility, he has a responsibility, and the club have their responsibility.
“Now it’s an issue only for the club and him. My idea is to continue with the players we are working with, and the players that want to be here.”
Koscielny signed from Lorient in 2010 and has since played more than 350 games for Arsenal, scoring 27 goals, but it appears his Gunners career is now over.
The club are currently trying to finalise a number of transfers before the Premier League begins on 9 August and are said to be working on Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos, which could prove problematic now Marco Asensio is injured.