Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Southampton are all set to be locked in a battle to clinch Cheikhou Kouyate's signature.

The 24-year-old defender was the subject of Premier League transfer speculation in the run-up to last summer's window although a deal failed to materialise.

Kouyate, who has been an ever-present feature of the Anderlecht first team, clocking up 25 appearances, and according to his agent, the Senegalese is in demand once again.

"I have been in talks with representatives from Liverpool and Arsenal over Cheikhou Kouyaté," Saffet Balkan told Turkish football site Turkish-football.com.

"Arsenal are very interested in Kouyaté. Southampton and Manchester City have also been in contact with me over him.

"It's very likely that he will be joining a Premier League club soon."

Kouyate, who has now obtained a Belgian passport, is eligible to make a move but it remains to be seen whether Anderlecht would sanction a deal.

Source: Daily Express