Arsenal target Nakata

Arsenal want Japanese star Hidetoshi Nakata to lead their midfield next season.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier says his star player could move to France but he has close links with Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger who wants to add a play maker to his midfield for next season.

Nakata left Perugia at the start of last year to join AS Roma but he does not have a regular place in the first team at the Serie A leaders and has already been the subject of bids from Lens and AS Monaco in the past year.

Nakata was at a Spanish training camp two weeks ago for the Japanese squad and Arsenal made contact with the player there. He played for Roma in the 3-1 win at Udinese on Sunday to restore their advantage in the Italian title race and has been getting first team action due to injury problems for Francesco Totti.

The 24 year old has been told by Troussier to find first team football with the World Cup only thirteen months away now and met Nakata in Rome four weeks ago to discuss his situation.

Nakata would not be sold for less than £12 million by Roma and Arsenal are interested in the Japanese icon.

Arsenal are prepared to pay at least that to secure Nakata.