Yann M’Vila has admitted he would love to join Arsenal.

The Rennes midfielder has long been linked with the Gunners, who reportedly watched him during Sunday night’s Ligue 1 draw with Lyon.

The 21-year-old, who Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have been close to signing last summer, also declared he would happily join Inter Milan or Real Madrid.

But the France star, rated to be worth STG22 million ($A33.92 million), suggested a team managed by one of his compatriots would have an advantage.

He told Canal+: “Inter, Arsenal, Real… I will take the fun everywhere!

“These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything.

“The important thing for me is getting playing time for the France team.”

M’Vila has three years remaining on his Rennes contract but manager Frederic Antonetti admits the player is likely to leave this summer.

“Yann M’Vila won’t be a Rennes player next season,” Antonetti told Radio Monte Carlo last month.

M’Vila could join Lukas Podolski at Arsenal, with the striker understood to have agreed the formalities of an STG11 million move from Cologne.

Former Gunner and ex-Germany teammate Jens Lehmann warned Podolski the pace of the English Premier League would be a culture shock.

Lehmann told Bild: “He is quick, dangerous in front of the goal, and has a good pass. I’m happy for him if he soon joins Arsenal.

“It won’t be easy, though. He will have to get used to the pace, and he will have to realise that participating is not enough.

“You must win. Expectations are very high.”