Arsenal make January loan enquiry for Gourcuff

The Premier League giants have approached the French club as they look to find out about the potential availability of the 25-year-old.  Arsenal believe they can help revive the career of the France international, who has slipped down the pecking order at Lyon to the point where he has been replaced in the starting XI in recent weeks by Brazil international Ederson. Arsene Wenger is normally reluctant to use the January market to reinforce his squad but it is believed that he will be active in the forthcoming window as he bids to secure a strong top-four finish.Wenger has identified attacking midfield as one area that needs strengthening and Arsenal have already opened talks with Real Madrid for Esteban Granero. The Gunners manager has spoken in the past of his admiration for Gourcuff and also asked about the player’s availability in last summer’s window.Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has ruled out the possibility of selling the playmaker but, in an interview with French TV station OLTV on Tuesday morning, left the door open for a possible loan move.“Yoann is Lyonnais,” said Aulas. “He will be with Lyon on December 31, and obviously until June 30. And surely thereafter.”Lyon bought Gourcuff for £19 million from Bordeaux last year but injuries and mixed form have marked his spell at the seven-times Ligue 1 winners. He returned to first-team action in October after undergoing ankle surgery in the summer but, despite initially looking sharp, he lost his starting place.The player is believed to be open to a temporary switch in a bid to regain his place in the France squad ahead of next summer’s European Championships. Gourcuff was left out of the squad that played friendlies against United States and Belgium last month.