Arsenal’s long term target Yoann Gourcuff will stay at Lyon according to the club’s presidential advisor Bernard Lacombe as he warned off the Gunners. Gourcuff, also a target of clubs like Atletico Madrid and Valencia has had his highs and lows before turning out to be Lyon’s highest earner.
Starting his career at Rennes, Gourcuff moved to AC Milan in 2006. However, after struggling hard at San Siro for two seasons, he moved to his native land to play for Bordeaux. There he had an impressive run for two years scoring 24 goals and assisting 26 times in his 95 appearances. He moved to Stade de Gerland for a whopping £18.9m in 2010. But since then, the 27-years old attacking midfielder was a shadow of his past. Adding to that, he had an injury plagued season where he scored only 3 goals in 18 league appearances.
Despite all these facts, Lyon are still hoping things will turn around. The club will dismiss all offers that would come to them for Gourcuff.
The club’s presidential advisor Bernard Lacombe told OL TV: “Yoann Gourcuff won’t leave during this transfer window. The president told me that there were opportunities, but all three parties need to be in agreement.”
“The president has had, it’s true, a lot of approaches, and that has enabled him to have a different point of view other than OL’s and he’s talked about it with Yoann. But I don’t think he’ll leave.” He added.
While things are going against the Gunners in their pursuit of Gourcuff, there comes another transfer rumour on their way. Promising Argentine winger Eduardo Salvio has been linked with the London club. Speculation is that Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal are all keeping track of this winger.
Salvio currently plays for Portuguese side Benfica. Though the club has admitted that they are getting offers from English sides, the club may decide against selling him for anything less than €40m. Quoted by the Independent, Manchester City have made a staggering €30m bid for Salvio while Benfica are alleged to hold a €40m price tag for the starlet in a hope to dissuade City from luring their prized asset.
Salvio, who was originally brought to Europe by Atletico Madrid back in 2010 moved to Lisbon on a loan deal before seizing the limelight in Lisbon, and finally signed a permanent deal at the beginning of the previous campaign, costing the club a massive €13.5 which still stands as the club’s record transfer fee.