Lyon's Gourcuff Willing to Take Pay Cut to Make Arsenal Dream a Reality

Yoann Gourcuff would be prepared to drop his ample salary demands in order to secure a move to Arsenal, according to Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas.

The France international began the new Ligue 1 campaign in style, scoring and creating two goals as Lyon cruised to an opening day 4-0 victory over Nice last weekend, but his sizeable wage at the Stade Gerland means his club are looking to cash in on the former Bordeaux star.

Arsenal have been linked with Gourcuff for a number of years and could have very well completed a move to the Emirates two years ago had a long term injury not disrupted such plans.

Aulas, who has overseen Lyon's mission to lighten their wage bill this summer, insists the club will not subsidise the midfielder's wages for him to complete a loan move to another Ligue 1 side, revealing that the only team Gourcuff will consider dropping his lofty wage demands for are Arsenal.

"Can you see us paying part of his salary for him to play against us with another French club?" Aulas was quoted as saying by ESPN.

"We've never considered that and it would be even more stupid now than it was a fortnight ago. All that I know, if I understood correctly, is that he was ready to lower his salary to go to Arsenal, but that is not the same thing."

Gourcuff was regarded as one of the brightest talents in European football when he played a pivotal role in Bordeaux's rise to the summit of French football in 2009. But a mixture of persistent injuries and struggles for consistent form have seen his star fade at Lyon, who paid €22m for his services in the summer of 2010.

The France international remains Lyon's highest earner and as the club seek to address their financial concerns Gourcuff could be the next name to leave the club. Lisandro Lopez and Michel Bastos have already left the to pursue lucrative projects in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, while long serving defender Anthony Reveillere has also left the club after 10 years.