Arsenal have been in search of stable defensive midfielders including Marouane Fellaini, but the club are also reportedly looking at Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons, who was made skipper of the side in January this past season.

The Gunners are looking to strengthen the midfield in every possible way, and while current players like Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla provide an effective attacking approach for the side, Arsene Wenger is also looking for a player to sit behind the midfield to protect his back four. Wenger had been keen on a deal for Fellaini, but negotiations seem to reach no solution, as Arsenal will not pay out-of-the-box to get the Belgian’s signature. Everton realise that Fellaini’s hefty transfer sum could be the only way the club can strengthen with the help of surplus funds, and are hence demanding a high transfer fee for their star man.

Gonalons has been a Lyon player through-and-through, and has progressed up the ranks at the Stade de Gerland. At 24-years of age, the French midfielder is in a good position to take up a new challenge in another league, and Arsenal can offer him up to four top competitions to participate in, where he has the potential to be a first team player.

The French international has spent his entire career so far in his native country, starting at youth academy level at FC Villefranche in 1997, where he was spotted as a young talent by Lyon. The Ligue 1 giants brought Gonalons to Lyon in 1999, where he would receive further development in their elite youth academy. That proved to be an impressive experience for the midfielder, who was then offered his first professional contract in 2009. The 24-year old went on to play 108 games for the club, scoring 9 goals in the process.

It seems to be either Gonalons or Fellaini, who will eventually make their way to the Emirates Stadium, but only time will tell which deal is best suited to the Gunners.

According to SkySports, Lyon confirmed that there have been no offers for their skipper so far.

The statement read: “Olympique Lyonnais were surprised to learn, by reading L’Equipe, that a fee has been defined for the sale of Maxime Gonalons and that this would be more than €12m,”

“Remember, the club has no intention to give up its captain.”

“The club’s development strategy is clear – Gonalons is one of the most promising young players.”

“No clubs have contacted us, especially Napoli, and the club is sorry about the fact that some say to the contrary.”