ARSENE WENGER has lined up a £21.8million deal for Bordeaux ace Yoann Gourcuff - his No 1 choice to replace Cesc Fabregas.
Arsenal have already spoken to the France star's dad Christian to pave the way for a switch that will make Gourcuff the Gunners' record signing.
An Arsenal source said: "While every effort is being made to keep Cesc at the club the boss is working towards an alternative.
"He believes Gourcuff's finesse and grace will fit perfectly to Arsenal's way of playing and will make it an almost seamless transition if Cesc does go."
Wenger is desperate to keep Fabregas after the skipper asked for a move to boyhood club Barcelona.
Arsenal slapped an £80m price tag on their prized asset but it is accepted Fabregas will eventually sign for Barca for around £45m.
Gourcuff, 23, will be France's first-choice playmaker in the World Cup but has a £21.8m get-out clause at Bordeaux.
Wenger may struggle to bring that price down as Bordeaux president Jean Louis Triaud is still fuming at Wenger for nabbing his striker Marouane Chamakh on a free.
Yet cash-strapped Bordeaux are desperate to get Gourcuff off their wage bill after failing to net a European spot following a late-season collapse in the French League.
Gourcuff earns around £80,000 a week at Bordeaux, one of the highest contracts in French football.
He joined Bordeaux in a £14m deal from AC Milan last summer after a season on loan in France.
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