Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Should Continue to Pursue Clement Grenier

Clement Grenier is exactly the type of player Arsenal must pursue. He's talented, full of potential and hasn't yet reached peak value. Arsene Wenger should maintain the chase despite Lyon's efforts to fend off interest from the Premier League club.

Wenger confirmed to The Sun that Arsenal are tracking the 22-year-old French midfielder, who's spent his entire career with Lyon. 

 "We are following Grenier. His intelligent play pleases me," Wenger said. "He has interesting qualities and reminds me of Samir Nasri."

Grenier showed signs of progress during the latter stages of the season. He scored four goals over the final seven Ligue 1 matches, displaying the type of offensive upside Lyon has been waiting for over the past four seasons.

Now that the French club has seen a glimpse of his capabilities, it's no surprise the Gones are trying to do everything in their power to keep him. A move to Arsenal would mean they don't get to enjoy the rising star's most productive seasons.

Both the club's manager and president have made comments about him staying at Stade de Gerland. Ian Holyman of ESPNFC.com reports coach Remi Garde talked to Grenier about furthering his development with Lyon:

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"I already did all I could so that he didn't join Nice last summer," Garde said, referring to a switch the club - but not the player - hoped to make for economic reasons. "I know the talent and ambition of Clement.

"He's a player who can still improve. I've told him that, at Lyon, there's everything for him to be able to continue his progress, and then go to a club where he'll establish himself as soon as he arrives. I think he's still got a little way to go at Lyon."

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Club president Jean-Michel Aulas said Lyon are going to demand a significant fee to move him this summer as another way to thwart interest, as reported by Adam Mazrani of Goal.com:

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"Clement said to me that he will give priority to Lyon if we qualify for the Champions League. So I prefer [to listen to] what he said, rather than what Arsene Wenger said," Aulas told Canal+.

"But, we have to make a financial effort to keep him. We will see after the level of our effort [that we have to do].

"If Arsene wants to have an idea of Grenier's price, I will tell him that it is the same as what Bayern Munich paid for Mario Gotze - around €37m (£31m)."

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Obviously, any fee close to £31 million would be completely unacceptable from the Gunners' point of view. Grenier is an intriguing player capable of making an impact at the Emirates right away. Putting him on the same level as Mario Gotze at this point just isn't accurate, though.

In all likelihood, it's simply another tactic by Lyon to stop clubs from seriously pursuing him. Wenger has been around the block more than a few times when it comes to the transfer market. He can't let talk like that stop him from trying to land a target.

Grenier has shown the ability to play both as a central midfielder or on the wing. He combines good pace with great vision and pinpoint passing skills that will likely be his biggest asset moving forward. He's also excelled as a free-kick taker.

Given a reasonable price (somewhere well south of £31 million), Grenier would make a perfect addition for the Gunners. Even if he didn't earn a full-time role right away, he'd be a valuable piece off the bench until Wenger felt he was ready to start.

At 22, his best seasons are still to come. Landing him before his value maxes out would also give Arsenal options moving forward.

While it's going to take a persistent effort with Lyon working hard to keep him, he's worth it. Wenger needs to do everything in his power to get a deal done at a fair price.