Auxerre striker Ireneusz Jelen has had offers from France and Germany – but says he would love to be given the chance to join Arsenal.
The 28-year-old Poland international, who can also play on the right wing, enjoyed a hugely successful season on a personal level and was voted his club’s player of the season last month.
His performances have attracted attention from Paris St Germain and, before that, Cologne and Borussia Dortmund, but he admits his dream would be a move to Emirates Stadium.
“I like Ligue 1,” he told Przeglad Sportowy.
“I had an offer from Paris St Germain but I’m not sure whether I would want to play there.
“There is a bad atmosphere at the club and the fans are a problem – they can smash up the players’ cars in the parking lot.
“Previously, I had offers from Cologne and Borussia Dortmund. I wanted to go to the latter.
“They have great fans – 80,000 turn up to almost every game – plus ‘Kuba’ Blaszczykowski plays there and there are many Poles in the Ruhr Valley.”
Many in Poland have suggested that Jelen is not suited to a high-profile lifestyle and is happier playing in small towns, but he insists that is untrue.
“I heard the same thing before I went to Auxerre,” he said.
“I am not afraid of a challenge.
“I heard that I would never go to England because The Premier League is not for me, but all it would take would be a phone call from Arsenal and I would pack my bags for London.”