Arsenal in Deep Negotiations with Lyon over Yoann Gourcuff - Report

Arsenal have rekindled their interest in French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff and have entered into negotiations with Lyon for a transfer this January, according to Le10Sport.

The Gunners have been tracking the midfielder for some time, but Arsene Wenger has now made signing him a priority this window as Arsenal look to end their eight-season trophy drought. The north London club have been hit by a series of injuries to key players, with Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby out for the season and Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs expected to be unavailable for the team's trip to Villa Park on Monday.

The midfielder is under contract with Lyon until 2015 and the Gunners are keen to complete a speedy transfer to spruce up their midfield options. The Frenchman will give the league toppers attacking impetus through the middle and will complement the likes of Mesut Ozil.

Meanwhile, Wenger has stressed the importance of having Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the squad but insists that the England international does not compensate for Theo Walcott's absence.

"It's good to have him back. But [Walcott and him] are different types of players. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a bit more of a midfielder and Walcott is more a striker type. One doesn't compensate the other one because they are different players," he said.

The Gunners have, on paper, an easy fixture list this January, where they play Fulham, Aston Villa and Coventry but have a tough game away to Southampton at the end of the month.

"I would have no hesitation. I don't know yet. The most important thing is that he played and came through it well. We'll see how he is but he's been out for five months. It takes some time to play in the Premier League," he told www.arsenal.com.