Michel Preud'homme claims Arsenal wanted Zinho Vanheusden

Standard Liege boss Michel Preud'homme has claimed that Arsenal wanted to sign the club's defender Zinho Vanheusden during the summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old spent the 2018-19 campaign on loan with Les Rouges from Inter Milan before completing a permanent move to the Belgian club ahead of the new season.

Preud'homme has revealed that the Gunners had their eye on a deal for the Belgium Under-21 international, only for Liege to convince him to remain at Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

"Last season he showed his qualities," Preud'homme told Het Laatste Niews. "That is why we have invested heavily in keeping him here. At a certain point Arsenal seriously knocked at the door, but we were able to convince Zinho to stay and we are happy about that."

Arsenal signed William Saliba, Kieran Tierney and David Luiz to improve their defensive options over the summer, although the former remained on loan with Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne.