Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Clement Grenier Is Worth Increased Cost for Gunners

Arsenal continue to look for ways to improve heading into next season and beyond. After finding one solid addition, the club must be ready to pay up.

Clement Grenier has been a target for the Gunners for some time and had already stated that he would leave Lyon this summer. As a result, Arsene Wenger placed a bid to attempt to acquire the talented midfielder.

Unfortunately, that bid was recently denied, according to Jamie Sanderson of Metro:

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Arsenal have had a £6million bid for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier turned down by the French club. Grenier is out of contract at Lyon at the end of the season, and the Gunners are hoping to bag him at a bargain price.

According to Le Parisien, the bid included a potentially lucrative 25 per cent sell-on clause, plus the promise of a future partnership between the two clubs.

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The fact that Grenier only has one more year remaining on his contract is concerning while making a large bid. However, bringing him into Emirates Stadium will increase the likelihood that he signs a long-term deal with the club.

With this in mind, Arsenal need to make a larger counteroffer to Lyon to make sure they can acquire the 22-year-old player.

Grenier has the potential to be one of the top midfielders in the league. He is excellent at attacking with great technical ability, and he knows how to create opportunities for himself and others in the final third.

He has also become a specialist on free kicks and would be able to help his squad earn important goals on dead balls. 

Last season in Ligue 1, he totaled seven goals with six assists while helping his club qualify for the Champions League with a third-place finish. He made 20 starts for his side with eight more appearances in league matches and was clearly one of the key players on the roster.

Additionally, he already has a couple of caps for the France national team and is certain to be a fixture on that squad for years to come.

When former Lyon star Juninho Pernambucano was asked about Grenier, the legendary player said, via ESPN UK: "He works hard. He has everything to get to a great level."

That is high praise from a great player, and Arsenal should be there when Grenier does reach that high level of play.

The Gunners were able to qualify for the Champions League last season with a young club in the midst of rebuilding. However, things will continue to get tougher as the squad looks to actually contend for trophies.

There is already plenty of talent on the roster, but Grenier is someone who can help everyone around him and make the entire squad better. His offensive efforts will certainly be needed if the team intends to catch Manchester United at the top of the table.

More importantly, he can be a huge factor for the club's long-term success if he does re-sign after the end of the year. After a successful campaign, there is little reason why he would not do that.

Arsenal have money to spend this summer on incoming transfers. They need to utilize these funds to make sure they get a great young player in Grenier.

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