Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Will Regret Missing out on Clement Grenier

Should anybody really be surprised that Arsenal have missed out on another promising player?

Arsene Wenger has talked up Clement Grenier in the past. The player himself even told Le Parisien, per Sky Sports, that Arsenal had made a bid for his services:

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I know Lyon have rejected an offer from Arsenal. Of course it is flattering that clubs are interested in me. It's hard for me to talk about my future now because I'm not yet certain of it. I prefer to wait to be 100 per cent sure of what is going to happen before I do it.

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Instead, Grenier has chosen to sign an extension through 2016 with Lyon, per Goal.

Now would have been the perfect time to pursue Grenier. He's still a young, promising midfielder. This summer, Arsenal could have gotten an extremely talented player for a reasonable price.

France has instituted extremely high tax rates for high earners in order to offset their debt. Footballers are not exempt from that tax, so clubs are being forced to offload players for discounted fees in order to ease the financial burden. For the right price, Grenier would have been available, even though he's unlikely on a high amount of wages.

If Arsenal want the midfielder down the line, they'll have to pay much more than the £12-18 million they would have had to pay at the present moment. Lyon now have more leverage with his contract being extended, and in a year or two, Grenier will have improved and made himself much more valuable.

Instead, Arsenal once again kept the checkbook closed and watched a talented player slip through their grasp.

The 22-year-old would have been a perfect fit for Arsenal. He wouldn't have gotten in the way of Jack Wilshere much, as Wilshere is better in a deeper midfield position, while Grenier plays a more advanced role. Santi Cazorla is a central attacking midfielder, but you can move him out to either wing and he'll be equally effective.

Grenier could have been a long-term solution for replacing the midfield creativity that left with Cesc Fabregas.

Should the move have materialized, Gunners supporters might have been bemoaning the club buying another young player with potential over a more established star. It's a fair concern as they have been burned too many times before.

This is a different case.

While Grenier is far from a finished product, he is more than prepared to succeed in the Premier League. He's extremely skilled on the ball for his age and, with his vision, can make just about any pass as well.

On set pieces, Grenier is a major threat. There isn't a position from within 25 yards where he can't take a crack on goal.

This is a player who could have contributed in a big way immediately. Sure, there's going to be a transition, but there's going to be a transition with any player coming into a new country and a new league.