Thursday, 11th July, 2013
Clement Grenier will be leaving Arsenal and Liverpool fans in dismay after Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas announced today the 22-year-old will be extending his contract until 2016.
Grenier has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger even sending scouts over to watch the talented midfielder in action.
Until now, there had been little in the way of news around a possible extension to his Lyon stay, which was set to end next summer.
However, at a press conference to present new recruit Miguel Lopes that was relayed via the club’s official feed, Aulas confirmed that Grenier will extend his contract by two years.
relatedNewsStory
The player was also quoted as saying: "My progress is not over. I have had six good years but I still have a lot to learn."
And his sentiments were echoed by Lyon coach Remi Garde, who added: "I am very happy to continue working with [Grenier]. Hopefully I can help him make further progress."
The news will be particularly disappointing for Arsenal, who were prepared to spend big on Grenier, as the playmaker notched 28 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon last season.
The extension brings to an end a long saga for Grenier, with even Juventus reportedly in the fray, while the player’s agent had revealed there was nothing decided as recently as yesterday.
Only Aulas had expressed confidence in Grenier’s continued stay, claiming earlier this month that Lyon were looking at a year’s extension and "maybe even more".
Those words appear to have come true today, as Lyon look to build on their third-place finish from last season’s Ligue 1 campaign.
Like betting on football? You simply must check out Inside Bet!
