Arsenal Transfer Rumor: Gunners Looking to Bolster Midfield by Signing Lyon’s Gonalons

With the January transfer window fast approaching, London heavy weight Arsenal are targeting a move that will see Olympique Lyonnais' young defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons migrating to the Emirates Stadium from Stade de Gerland.

The Gunners are eyeing the youngster to add more grit to the club's midfield. Currently, the midfield is managed by Cameroon international Alex Song and Ghanaian teenager Emmanuel Frimpong. Although Song provides the required experience and bite to the position, Frimpong still has a long way to go before he can really establish himself.

Gonalons, 22, has made his presence felt for Lyon since the start of his professional career with Lyon in 2009, after gradually climbing through the club's youth section. He has also made his International debut, and is seen as one of the most promising, upcoming talents. The Gunners will know that signing the youngster will be met with some resistance from the French club which is currently managed by former Gunners and Lyon defender Remi Garde.

The Gunners' success of a January bid will heavily depend on how Lyon performs in this half of the season. Lyon, at present, are sitting in the fourth spot in Ligue 1, according to a Caughtoffside report.

Gonalons, who is a graduate of the Olympique Lyonnais youth academy, has been with the club since he was 10-years-old. At the age of 18, he was promoted to the club's Championnat de France amateur side, where he appeared in 26 matches and also scored two goals.

In 2009, the youngster signed his first professional contract and agreed to a one-year deal with Lyon. He made his first professional debut in August 2009 in the second leg of the club's UEFA Champions League playoff round match against Anderlecht, where he appeared as a substitute in the 73rd minute for Jeremy Toulalan.

He scored his first professional goal in October against Liverpool at Anfield in a UEFA Champions League match. The player's current contract extension will keep him at the club until 2014.