Rumour: Arsenal target Clement Grenier after rejecting Cesc Fabregas option

Clement Grenier

Arsenal are looking at Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier as a potential acquisition this summer, as reports the Daily Express, despite having rejected the option to sign Cesc Fabregas back, with Chelsea leading the charge for their former captain currently.

Grenier is currently nursing injury after being ruled out of the World Cup for France late on – with Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin taking his place at the World Cup - and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is aware that he will not have to worry about him potentially having his price inflated in the event of a good tournament in Brazil.

Wenger had rejected a move for Fabregas this summer as he is under the belief that his former charge was too similar to star players such as Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla and it now appears that Arsenal could live to regret that decision, with local rivals Chelsea closing in on a move for the Barcelona midfielder.

Instead, Wenger believes Grenier could be a better fit for his team, with the Frenchman more prone to playing in a deeper midfield role than Fabregas and media in France believe that a bid is imminent, despite his current fitness issues.

Arsenal are aware that some of their major rivals in the Premier League have already moved early to secure transfers, with Liverpool and Chelsea having already been active, and Wenger will hope to use Grenier’s absence from international duty this summer to wrap up an early deal to bolster his midfield options ahead of a hopeful renewed title challenge next season.

Clement Grenier created 55 chances for Lyon last season, assisting five goals in Ligue One.