Rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are already trying to outdo each other, before they even meet for the second time this season in the English Premier League on February, as both are neck-and-neck in signing Anderlecht centre-back Cheikhou Kouyaté.

The Belgian club was reported to have given the Senegalese their blessings to seek greener pastures once the January transfer window opens.

His agent, Saffet Balkan, has already held talks with the two English sides and revealed that both are keen on bringing in the 24-year-old onto their respective teams permanently.

"I have been in talks with representatives from Liverpool and Arsenal over Cheikhou Kouyate." Balkan told the Daily Star.

"Arsenal are very interested in Kouyate. It's very likely that he'll be joining a Premier League club soon."

Kouyate has been capped 5 times by the Senegal senior squad, while his impressive form during the 2012 Olympics caught the eye of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The defender was on the verge of heading to the Emirates in the past, but documentary problems hindered the move. Nevertheless, he already has a Belgian passport that could smooth sail his way to England.

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