£12m Frenchman Heading To Arsenal?

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Arsenal will finally fill the void left by Alex Song this summer with boss Arsene Wenger lining up a move for Lyon’s £12m-rated defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons.

I, like many Gooners, was left gobsmacked when we decided to sell Song to Barcelona for a reported £15m last summer and failed to replace him. Instead, Wenger has asked 30-year-old Mikel Arteta to be our ‘screen’ in front of the back four this campaign.

While it’s worked at times, Arteta’s lack of pace and physicality has been exposed on occasion and he’s not the defensive midfielder we need long-term. However, the Metro are reporting that we’ve now stepped up our interest in Gonalons with Arsene understood to have received several glowing reports on the 23-year-old.

Gonalons is one of the brightest talents in Ligue 1 and scout Gilles Grimandi has been tracking his progress throughout the season, including watching him in both legs against Tottenham in the Europa League as well as Sunday’s 3-1 win over Lorient.

It’s understood Grimandi will be joined by chief scout Steve Rowley in watching the midfielder during the second half of the season ahead of a potential summer move, with Lyon valuing the player at £12m.

The player himself has opened the door to a move to England after confirming he’s a fan of the Premier League as well as the Bundesliga:

‘I like the English and the German leagues,’ said Gonalons.

‘When I see the pitch and that type of game, I feel it’s a dream.’

This sounds like a typical Arsene Wenger signing. He’s french, young, and will cost around £12m – which seems to be our ceiling price when it comes to transfer fees these days. I’ve not seen a lot of this lad but I do know we need a ‘proper’ defensive midfielder for next season, so if Arsene thinks Gonalons is the man for the job, I’d be glad to see him arrive in the summer.

What defensive midfielder would you sign?

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11 Comments

1. 

   Alh. Aliyu Zaiyanu

   February 27, 2013 at 12:34 pm

   If dey sign calones is additional quality to the growth of the team as well….

   Reply
2. 

   skind

   February 27, 2013 at 1:48 pm

   What worries me is the standard of the French league. Wenger’s purchases from that league recently have not been that good. However, we are in desperate need of a DM & keeper.

   Reply
   • 

     mac14

     February 27, 2013 at 5:26 pm

     I tend to agree skind. I think Arsene’s luck has run out in Ligue 1. He seems to go back there out of habit these days, not particularly because the player is the best available. But Gonalons does look decent and might be worth a shot, just wish the boss would look a little further afield at times.

     Reply
3. 

   seedick

   February 27, 2013 at 3:33 pm

   gilles grimandi is the worst scout arsenal has…. all his purchases hv been super flops

   Reply
4. 

   Malaysian gunner

   February 27, 2013 at 11:55 pm

   So Wenger is finally going for the established players rather than wc promising kids like Chamberlain/Vela/Denilson,etc. It has taken him at least five years to realise the error of his ways.Hopefully it aint too late.
   Another area is tactics .Arsenal always havea problem defeating teams who play anti soccer. Even the red face has uses these tactics to win regulaly against Wenger.e. Wenger. Unless he can find a solution to this,it will be as ususal.Then if Arsenal miss out on the cl slot,rest assured Arsenal could wander in the non cl wilderness for some time like Pool.

   Reply
5. 

   GoonaCed

   February 28, 2013 at 1:55 am

   I don’t think the problem is always the lack of quality players…. But lack of organisation

   Reply
6. 

   daniel

   February 28, 2013 at 4:27 am

   I think capoun will be the best option from ligue 1 & another midfilder like gustavo of bayern,strootman from holland or gonalon of lyon

   Reply
7. 

   sly shizzle

   February 28, 2013 at 6:23 am

   I think dat we need a robust type of a DM who can screen the back four very well. Apart from that with one outstanding player each in all the departments will help us compete for trophies.
   Sacko for defense, Capuoe for midfield n Jovetic for attach.

   Reply
8. 

   batunde

   February 28, 2013 at 10:17 am

   pls. Buy quality players

   Reply
9. 

   emoefe anthony

   February 28, 2013 at 8:31 pm

   i want wenga 2 buy quality player nt quantity pls wenga

   Reply
10. 

    dan jonat

    March 1, 2013 at 11:12 am

    i think i can be the perfect defensive midfielder that can replace song..am young and talented like song and wilshere..try me pls gunners for life.

    Reply