Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow in their attempts to sign highly-rated Olympique Lyon forward Nabil Fekir, according to reports in France.
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Fekir enjoyed a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 last season as he scored 13 goals and registered nine assists in 34 league appearances as Lyon pushed Paris Saint-Germain close for the title.
That type of form has seen him linked with a potential summer transfer to the Emirates Stadium [via Mirror Sport], however, respected French football journalist Julien Laurens has revealed via his official Twitter account that Fekir is set to sign a new deal at the Stade de Gerland stadium.
Nabil Fekir, last season revelation in Ligue 1, has extended his contract at Lyon with a massive pay rise. Press conference at 12.30 UK time
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) July 8, 2015
Fekir’s decision to extend his stay in France will likely cause Gunners boss Arsene Wenger into switching transfer targets as he looks to strengthen his squad to enable a title challenge next season.
Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria has emerged as an surprise option during the week as reports in Telegraph Sport suggest Wenger is ready to make a bid for the unsettled international, despite his indifferent form in England since his arrival from Real Madrid last summer.
The Frenchman is a known admirer of the Argentine as he tried to sign him before joining Los Blancos [via BBC Sport] and again during the 2013 summer transfer window [via Telegraph Sport].
Another attacking midfielder that has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent days is German international Mario Gotze, whose future at Bayern Munich looks uncertain following an outburst from his agent Volker Struth at the weekend [via Mail Sport].
After scoring the winner in the World Cup final last summer, the 23-year-old hasn’t pushed on a great deal and a switch to London to join compatriots Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil could appeal to Gotze.
Should the Gunners make a move for either player then they will have to act fast as reports in German based media outlet Bild [via ESPN] suggest Manchester United and Bayern Munich are considering a swap deal involving the pair.