Monday, 6th January, 2014
Arsenal are set to be disappointed over Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons after the midfielder revealed talks are scheduled for this week over a switch to Serie A giants Napoli.
Napoli were believed to be preparing a €13m bid for Gonalons, with Lyon always open to financial boosts even as Arsenal were also on the trail.
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Gonalons was initially not for sale by Lyon – he is regarded as a high-value player by the club's president – but things have moved swiftly after he rejected calls for a move last summer.
The 24-year-old, contracted at Lyon until 2016, told his club website: "During the week there will be several meetings with the president and the coach to find the best solution.
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"We all know that Napoli are interested in me, but there are other things that are true and false in what the press reports, so beware.
"I'm asking questions, but when you want a big club like Napoli, it is tough. There needs to be an agreement reached between the three parties."
The turnaround is also swift given Gonalons' late-November assertion that he would finish the 2013/14 season at Lyon.
However, Napoli manager Rafael Benitez is now poised to gain the player he once sought at Liverpool.
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