Post by jockcas on Aug 20, 2013 10:43:09 GMT
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is preparing a bid for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier.
Only 22 years old, Grenier has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in French football.
His strong showings in Ligue 1 have seen him take over the mantle of once worn by fellow Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, previously cast as the next big thing in France.
Arsenal also had a £10 million offer for Yohan Cabaye rejected by Newcastle United on Monday but Lyon may yet prove more accommodating of Wenger's overtures.
The French side won seven league titles in a row between 2001 and 2008 but in recent years have struggled to emulate previous success.
Big-money takeovers at Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco have left Lyon chasing shadows in the transfer market, whilst the cost of building a new stadium is understood to have convinced president Jean-Michel Aulas to cash in on players who can be moved on.
Lyon are believed to be ready to listen to offers for Grenier.
However any bid from Arsenal will likely have to exceed the fee offered for Cabaye, with an offer in the region of £15m expected.
Only 22 years old, Grenier has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in French football.
His strong showings in Ligue 1 have seen him take over the mantle of once worn by fellow Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, previously cast as the next big thing in France.
Arsenal also had a £10 million offer for Yohan Cabaye rejected by Newcastle United on Monday but Lyon may yet prove more accommodating of Wenger's overtures.
The French side won seven league titles in a row between 2001 and 2008 but in recent years have struggled to emulate previous success.
Big-money takeovers at Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco have left Lyon chasing shadows in the transfer market, whilst the cost of building a new stadium is understood to have convinced president Jean-Michel Aulas to cash in on players who can be moved on.
Lyon are believed to be ready to listen to offers for Grenier.
However any bid from Arsenal will likely have to exceed the fee offered for Cabaye, with an offer in the region of £15m expected.