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Arsenal To Push Ahead With Move For €20m French International
Arsenal are finally set to make a move for long-term target Maxime Gonalons with Arsene Wenger making the €20m midfielder one of key summer priorities.
That’s according to the Metro, who are quoting reports coming out of Spain that suggest the boss has finally decided to make a move for the French international after tracking him for over two years.
Gonalons has been a key figure in Lyon’s midfield over the past five seasons and he’s been in superb form again this campaign to help Hubert Fournier’s side to the top of the Ligue 1 table.
However, it seems his impressive performances has convinced Arsene that he’s the man to strengthen our midfield options next season as the Metro believe we’ll make a formal offer for the 25-year-old at the end of the season.
I’m sure Lyon will be desperate to keep hold of him but the newspaper suggests they could cash-in for around €20m – which seems more than reasonable in today’s market.
It’s difficult to know how much truth there is behind this report but I do think Arsene will look to bring in another defensive midfielder this summer.
Francis Coquelin has been in superb form and deserves his place in the starting eleven at the minute but I think we’ll see Mathieu Flamini sold this summer and it’s clear Mikel Arteta’s body can’t cope with regular first team action any more, so we’re going to need to bring in another player to help out in the middle of the park.
Is Gonalons the man for the job? My personal preference would be Morgan Schneiderlin or possibly Lars Bender, so I’d only go for Gonalons if those two aren’t attainable.