Long term Emirates Stadium target very keen to make North London switch.
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Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff would be willing to pay a pay-cut to force through a move to Arsenal this summer, reports the Independent.
The French midfielder is keen on a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal showing the most interest, and the player would accept taking a pay-cut of up to half his current salary at Lyon to push through a move to London. Club president Jean-Michel Aulas confirms Gourcuff could leave the club this summer.
“All that I know, if I understood correctly, is that he was ready to lower his salary to go to Arsenal, but that’s not the same thing.” Aulas told French news outlet L’Equipe this week. Dubbed the ‘new Zidane’ the 27-year old midfielder has failed to live up to his early hype, but is still regarded as one of the most talented players in France, with 29 international caps to his name.
Arsenal are hoping to secure a cut-price deal for Gourcuff this summer, due to Lyon’s financial difficulties, and have been tracking him for a number of seasons. They see him as a player to implement into their forward rotation and a great backup for their main creative influence in midfield, Santi Cazorla.
The Gunners are yet to spend any money this summer on first-team players, and hope to wrap up a deal for Gourcuff soon. They also hope to complete a £17million deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Luis Gustavo this week.