Arsenal target Yoann Gourcuff is prepared to take a wage cut in order to seal his move to the Premier League club this summer, according to
Team Talk. The Lyon midfielder is a long-term transfer target for the Gunners and news of a potential move to Emirates Stadium has resurfaced. The Ligue 1 club would be prepared to part with the France international if a suitable offer is received, while the 27-year-old would prefer a move to England's top flight. There had been talk of Gourcuff being loaned out to French outfit Lorient, though this has been flatly dismissed by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas. And that would make Arsenal favourites for the attacker's signature as the transfer window ticks down into its final few weeks. Aulas said of the possibility of loaning the player to a rival:
"Can you see us paying part of his salary for him to play against us with another French club? We've never considered that and it would be even more stupid now than it was a fortnight ago."
And he also confirmed that the player would be prepared to take a hit on his current salary. Aulas continued:
"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. "I spoke to his lawyer two weeks ago and he asked for the power of attorney to negotiate a transfer. I said no, but I would be keen to offer a non-exclusive power of attorney to see what happens."
Gourcuff's arrival at the Emirates would signal the first real breakthrough for manager Arsene Wenger in the transfer window. Wenger has so far been frustrated in his efforts to land a number of top targets, such as Gonzalo Higuain, who opted for a move to Napoli, as well as Luis Suarez, who Liverpool are refusing to sell.