Lyon president confirms ‘no offer yet’ from Arsenal for Houssem Aouar

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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has cast doubt on Arsenal’s ability to sign the French midfielder Houssem Aouar this summer. 

The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to The Emirates in recent weeks. ESPN reported a week ago that he was now Mikel Arteta’s number one target for the rest of the transfer window, with a £55.5 million price-tag on his head. 

However, that report also made it clear that Arsenal needed to sell players first before making a move for the Frenchman and the financial aspect of this deal is what Aulas referred to. 

Speaking to Gooner Talk the Lyon president reportedly made it clear that Arsenal may be unable to afford Aouar this summer. 

“No I don’t think so (regarding Aouar moving to Arsenal). No offer yet, it seems that Arsenal don’t want to, or can’t invest the price for Houssem, who is our best player.”

Aulas is known as one of Europe’s toughest negotiators and Arsenal will no doubt have to pay the asking price if they want to get a hold of Aouar this summer. 

That means more player sales, to follow Emi Martinez’s recent departure from the club, before Arsenal can think about securing a deal for one of Europe’s most exciting midfield talents. 

Arsenal have plenty of other fringe players they are trying to shift this summer, including the likes of Sead Kolasinac, Sokratis Papasthathopolous and Lucas Torreira, at which point a move for Aouar might become more likely. 

But for now, it seems the Gunners are just going to come up short in any pursuit of the midfield dynamo.