Gunners line up summer move for les Bleus international.
Arsenal will step up their attempts to sign highly-rated Olympique Lyonnais defensive midfield player Maxime Gonalons at the end of the season, says the Metro.
The North London giants have been searching for a new holding midfield player for some time now, with manager Arsene Wenger having finally given up all hope of France international Abou Diaby’s strained fitness levels holding up to the rigours of the Premier League long enough for him to take on the all-energy role at the Emirates next season.
And while there has been talk of late around the club of a move to bring back ex-player Alex Song from FC Barcelona this summer to fill the void in front of the back four, Wenger is known to be reluctant to do so having only just sold the Cameroon international to the La Liga outfit at the beginning of this campaign.
Consequently, Arsenal will instead turn their attentions to Gonalons, 27, who has been capped six times by les Bleus since making his international debut two years ago and with a contract with the Ligue 1 giants that runs until 2016, it is expected that the player will cost the Gunners £15 million to buy this summer.
More renowned as a passer than an enforcer, though with a tall physique not seen in the Arsenal midfield since the days of Patrick Vieira, Gonalons could be an ideal partner for Aaron Ramsey or Mikel Arteta in the holding role.
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