Saint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin has revealed that Arsenal held talks with his agent over a possible move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger denied that he was pursuing the 29-year-old centre-back during the January transfer window.
Perrin, though, has maintained that he was part of Wenger's list of potential recruits.
"There have been serious contacts through my agent," Goal.com quotes him as saying. "I think I was on a shortlist but not at the top, apparently!
"A move in the [January] transfer window? It's always complicated but it's hard to deny Arsenal.
"I have always said that, if I had to leave ASSE one day, it would be for a bigger club to play in the Champions League. A club like Arsenal. I do not think many players in Ligue 1 would refuse them."
Arsenal bolstered their defensive options on deadline day by signing Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal for an undisclosed fee.
