Sunday 15th June, 2014
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed that he has given Maxime Gonalons his word to allow him to leave if a "top ten club" make an approach for his services.
Aulas is actively trying to extend Gonalons' contract at the Stade Gerland, although the club are braced for interest in their midfielder over the summer.
Arsenal are long-time fans of Gonalons, while Serie A outfit Napoli have persistently tried to sign the 25-year-old over the last year.
But Aulas would love the player to remain at Lyon – and for the long term.
"Maxime is one of the players whose contract we are trying to extend", the president admitted to RMC.
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"He can spend his entire career at Lyon if he wants.
"I have given him my agreement he can be released for a top ten club. This is not a question of money, but a matter of respect, keeping one's word and the quality of the club in question", Aulas concluded.
Gonalons, who played in 36 of Lyon's 38 Ligue 1 games last season, has already been the subject of a tentative proposal from Napoli which suggested a €13m fee, a sum Les Gones deemed far from sufficient for the midfielder.
It also remains to be seen which clubs Aulas classes as top ten sides.
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