Gourcuff would make Arsenal transfer move

Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff has told reporters that he would be willing to take a paycut to join Premier League side Arsenal. The French international midfielder is the highest earning player at Lyon and president Jean-Michel Aulas has recently hinted that the player could be sold.

The 27-year-old has not reproduced the form that made him one of Europe's most feared playmakers at AC Milan and Bordeaux; partially because of injury concerns and also a lack of playing time. Arsenal have always been interested in the player and Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger is a close friend of the Gourcuff family.


Last weekend Gourcuff scored a goal and made a further two in a 4-0 win over Nice and after that game, Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas said: "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 even more stupid now than it was a fortnight ago.


"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."