The Guardian reported last month that Arsenal had joined the race to sign Willem Geubbels from Lyon in the summer but things have become increasingly more tricky to secure his signature it appears.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists that the striker, who is under contract until 2019, will not leave on the cheap.
Geubbels, 16, made his first-team debut for Lyon in the Autumn and has made four appearances for the club and is highly-regarded in French football.
Addressing interest from Ligue 1 rivals Monaco, Aulas states that he will not gift Geubbels to anyone:
They have just cashed €300million or €400million, so they will pay for Geubbels. If Willem thinks he can have a better career in Monaco than Lyon… Monaco bought Pietro Pellegri for €25million. We will not make gifts.
In any case, we try to have people with ethics. My biggest regret is never to have seen Willem alone, I’ll talk to him about it directly. It is the end of his contract in 2019.
If Monaco makes an offer of €70million we will be disappointed because we believe [in Geubbels] a lot. We are reassured by his valuation.
During the January transfer window, it was claimed that both Bayern and Premier League title holders Chelsea held talks to sign the 16-year-old attacker but were unable to reach an agreement with the Ligue 1 side for the teenager’s transfer.
Having rejected a new contract with Lyon, it appears as if Geubbels himself is keen on a move this summer but Lyon will not let one of Europe’s top teenage prospects leave on the cheap, given the current market.
Arsenal are one of many top European clubs chasing the attacker’s signature. It’s widely reported that fellow Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, La Liga leaders Barcelona, Ligue 1 holders Monaco and Bundesliga pair Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig are all said to be keen on signing Geubbels, while both Liverpool and Tottenham were linked with a move for the France U17 international earlier this year.
