£20M FRENCH STAR YOANN GOURCUFF IS NEW FABREGAS

ARSENAL will go for Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff as a £20 million replacement for Cesc Fabregas if their captain finally moves to Barcelona this summer.

And even if Fabregas remains at The Emirates for at least another season, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will continue his pursuit of Gourcuff, who is also on Manchester City’s list of targets.


Gourcuff is regarded in France as the new Zinedine Zidane but like the rest of the French squad, he had a nightmare World Cup.


But that hasn’t altered Wenger’s view that playmaker Gourcuff, 24 today, is a special talent.

Wenger has already made one signing from Bordeaux this summer – striker Marouane Chamakh, snapped up on a free transfer as he was out of contract.


And last week, he paid £8.5m for centre-back Laurent Koscielny, 24, from Lorient, who are managed by Christian Gourcuff – father of Wenger’s latest target.


Fabregas has made no secret of his desire to return to Spain to sign for Barcelona.


But even the Catalan giants have cash-flow problems, which could be a factor in delaying a deal.


Wenger certainly doesn’t want to lose Fabregas.


But he knows what he will try to do if he fails in his battle to keep him.


And despite big-spending City’s interest in Gourcuff, the French connection could help Wenger get his man.


Meanwhile, Spanish midfielder Fran Merida has revealed he was unhappy at Arsenal and did not think twice about signing for Atletico Madrid.


Merida, 20, who was once described by Wenger as “an absolutely amazing player”, made just six league appearances for the North Londoners.


And the midfield schemer, who came through the youth system at Barcelona, opted for a move back to Spain with Atletico, the club he had supported from a young age.


He said: “I’m an Atletico fan and I feel enormously proud to be here.


“Atletico is a big club as is Arsenal but there were some circumstances there, particularly on the sporting side, which I wasn’t happy with and I couldn’t fit in.


“I made Wenger aware of that and as soon as I knew that Atletico were interested, I didn’t think twice about switching.”