ARSENAL have been given a major boost in their quest to sign Houssem Aouar with the Lyon midfielder reportedly available for £25million.
The Gunners were heavily linked with a move to sign the 22-year-old last summer, but were priced out of a deal to bring the Frenchman to the Emirates.
Ir was claimed that the playmaker agreed to link up with the North Londoners who failed to stump up the £54m needed to secure his services.
According to L’Equipe, Aouar’s price tag this summer is over half of what Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was previously demanding.
They state that an offer between £22m-£25m could be enough to prise the player away from the Groupama Stadium.
That is because Lyon failed to qualify for the Champions League after William Saliba – on loan at Nice from the Gunners – scored the winner in Sunday’s 3-2 victory.
And Arsenal could reignite their interest in Aouar with boss Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu known to be huge admirers of him.
Speaking prior to Lyon’s defeat against Nice, Aouar – who has two years left on his contract – hinted that it could be his last game for the club.
He told reporters: “This could be (my last match at Lyon), but it could also not be.
“I do not ask myself these sorts of questions before an important match like this.
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“I have not played as much as I would have liked. I struggled to come back after Covid.
“A pretty mixed season (for me). I have improved in terms of managing injuries.
“I am happy with my statistics in the few matches that I have done, so a mixed season. I feel good, I am at 100 per cent for this match.”
Aouar has shown glimpses of class this campaign, with the player chipping in with eight goals and four assists in 33 matches in all competitions.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
