Emirates club could sign superstar as early as January.
Arsenal v Sunderland Live Streaming
Arsenal will attempt to sign Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff after the Ligue 1 side’s president admitted he will have to sell his stars to balance the books.
The 25-year-old has been on manager Arsene Wenger’s radar for some time, with his father Christian, the manager of Lorient, close friends with the Gunners boss.
A bid was expected for the France international following the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona but it was understood Lyon would not sell.
But now that appears to have changed as president Jean-Michel Aulas will now listen to offers for the club’s top stars.
Arsenal could sign Gourcuff as early as January but that depends on Lyon’s progress in the Champions League from a tough group containing Real Madrid and Ajax.
“To be totally financially secure, it may be necessary to sell a player in the winter transfer window,” Aulas told Le Progres.
Gourcuff would be a perfect replacement for Fabregas and would allay fans’ fears that the north London club could no longer attract big stars.
With three years remaining on the playmaker’s contract, Gourcuff will not come cheap and a bid of least £25million will be needed.