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    Arsenal ‘launch official Houssem Aouar transfer bid with long-term target and Lyon star available for just £17m’

    ARSENAL have reportedly made an offer to Lyon for midfield gem Houssem Aouar following a drop in the asking price for the player.Le 10 Sport says the Ligue 1 star could cost the Gunners under a third of the £54million fee club officials hoped to get in 2020. 
    Arsenal’s interested Aouar could be set to heat up with the club reportedly making a bid for the Lyon starCredit: Getty
    Aouar, 23, had been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates before the start of the 2020-21 season. 
    Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is thought to be keen on the versatile attacker who can play centrally or on the wing.
    In September reports in France claimed Lyon had turned their noses up at two separate bids from the North London giants of £31m and £34.5m.
    However, Le 10 Sport says the Gunners have returned with a fresh offer for the midfielder whose current contract with the French outfit runs out in 2023.

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    And it is thought LaLiga champions Atletico Madrid and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain could be set to rival Arsenal for the France player’s signature.  
    Lyon, who finished fourth last term, are reportedly after £17m to £21m for Aouar. 
    It is believed the club’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League may have influenced a drop in price. 
    However, the player faced some fitness struggles last term after picking up a thigh injury in November 2020. 
    The Lyon-born ace’s spell on the treatment table led to him missing out on France’s involvement in Uefa’s Nations League after being called up by Didier Deschamps
    And Aouar was also left out of the Les Bleus squad for this year’s  European Championships. 
    In June SunSport reported Arsenal were preparing a contract worth £100,000-a-week in a bid to lure Aouar to the Emirates. 

    Ligue One side Lyon are after £17m to £21m for AouarCredit: AFP

    The club are looking to boost their midfield ranks after finishing eighth in the Prem last term and missing out on a place in Europe.
    The Ligue 1 star, who began his career in Lyon’s academy at 11, notched up eight goals and four assists in 33 appearances across all competitions last season. 
    However, Aouar appeared in eight fewer games than he did in the 2019-20 season.
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    Arsenal agree personal terms with Anderlecht star Albert Sambi Lokonga on five-year deal in £15m transfer

    ARSENAL are reportedly set to complete a deal for Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.Lokonga, 21, is said to have signed a five-year contract with the Gunners and will become Mikel Arteta’s first signing of the summer.
    Anderlecht’s Albert Sambi Lokonga looks set to join Arsenal on a five-year dealCredit: Getty
    Mikel Arteta has his eye on a number of players but Lokonga could be the first to arriveCredit: PA
    Arsenal have agreed a £15million fee plus add-ons with the Belgian outfit, with negotiations in the final stages and a medical still to be completed.
    But it is only the finer details of the deal that need to be thrashed out and Lokonga should be an Arsenal player soon, reports Fabrizio Romano.
    The Gunners have been chasing a midfielder all summer with Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Wolves’ Ruben Neves both rumoured to join.
    But Lokonga, who is able to play in central and defensive midfield, is the man Arteta has placed his faith in.
    Now the Spaniard could look to improve other areas of the squad.
    Targeting Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares suggests a back-up for Kieran Tierney is a priority while Arsenal are also chasing England centre-back Ben White.
    But in order for Arteta to bring in his key targets sporting director Edu may need to sell players first.

    Alexandre Lacazette is one player the Gunners are keen to sell and the club is willing to accept a reduced fee to get his £182,000-a-week salary off the wage bill.
    He could leave alongside Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira as the club looks to raise £75m.
    William Saliba and Matteo Guendouzi have already agreed to join Marseille on loan with the latter agreeing an option to sign for the French side permanently next year.
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    Man Utd and Arsenal transfer target Houssem Aouar ‘skips Lyon pre-season training to try and force through move away’

    HOUSSEM AOUAR has reportedly skipped Lyon pre-season training amid transfer interest from Man Utd and Arsenal.The 23-year-old has allegedly been AWOL for five days and looking to force through a move away from the club.
    Houssem Aouar has reportedly skipped Lyon trainingCredit: AFP
    Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool have all been linked with the French midfielder.
    And Get French Football News claim he hasn’t been seen for days despite Lyon saying he is not sick.
    The report adds that Aouar is unhappy that Memphis Depay left on a free to join Barcelona.
    He has been at the club since 2009 and risen through the ranks to the first team.
    Aouar was named in the Champions League squad of the season in 2019-20 and made his international debut last October.
    He is under contract at Ligue 1 side Lyon for two more years.
    But Lyon’s failure to qualify for the Champions League means they could lose him on the cheap having demanded £55million for his services.
    SunSport understands that Arsenal are readying a contract worth £100k-a-week to lure the midfielder to the Emirates at the second time of asking.

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    Aouar chipped in with eight goals and four assists last season for Lyon, and has been on the radar of several Premier League sides, including Liverpool.
    However, Arsenal are currently leading the race as they look to bolster their creative attacking options ahead of the new season.
    Speaking before Lyon’s last game of the season, Aouar admitted: “This could be my last game for the club.”
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    Matteo Guendouzi ends Arsenal hell as Marseille confirm transfer for midfielder after fallout with Mikel Arteta

    MATTEO GUENDOUZI has finally ended his Arsenal hell by returning to France to join Marseille.The 22-year-old has initially signed for the Ligue 1 side on loan but Jorge Sampaoli’s side have an obligation to buy him permanently next summer.
    The Ligue 1 club have signed the midfielder on loan with an obligation to buyCredit: Twitter@OM_Officiel
    Arsenal outcast Matteo Gunedouzi has joined MarseilleCredit: Twitter@OM_Officiel
    According to Get French Football News, Arsenal will earn around £858,000 for the 12 months Guendouzi spends on loan at Marseille.
    The Gunners will then be paid £9.4m at the end of next season to make the midfielder’s transfer permanent.
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    Guendouzi’s move spells the end of a torrid time in North London dominated by a series of incidents both on and off the pitch.
    He spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin in Germany after falling out with boss Mikel Arteta.
    Guendouzi hasn’t featured for the Gunners since the 2-1 defeat against Brighton in June 2020 where he grabbed Neal Maupay’s throat.
    He then is said to have clashed with Arteta during a training camp in Dubai, with David Luiz then telling the youngster to ‘grow up’.
    And Arsenal were keen to offload Marseille’s new No.6 this summer with just one year remaining on his deal.
    Yet Guendouzi claimed this week that he will be a ‘Gooner forever’ despite the tumultuous time he spent in his three years at the club.
    The France youth international tweeted: “I will never forget the Emirates Stadium.
    “I will never forget the fans. I won’t forget the city. I will never forget everything I’ve been through here.

    “I will never forget that my only will was to defend with pride Arsenal colors.
    “Thanks to all of those who believed in me during my time here, during the good and the bad moments.
    “I can only wish the best to the club and its fans who deserve so much, trust me! Good bye Arsenal, I will never forget and will be a gooner forever.” More