Report: Arsenal leading race for 'incredible' 23-year-old amid contract uncertainty

By Sam Preston

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Houssem Aouar from French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon amid his contract uncertainty.

The Sun report that the Gunners are back in the hunt for a player they have been extensively linked with down the years.

They say that the midfielder’s reluctance to sign a new deal, with just one year remaining on his contract, means he could be sold this summer.

This window could represent one of their final chances to get a fee for the 23-year-old, Pep Guardiola previously described as an ‘incredible‘ player.

Arsenal leading Aouar race

Arsenal could still do with midfield reinforcements and Aouar’s contract situation should raise the prospect of a deal getting done at a reasonable price.

The Gunners are seemingly looking at that market of players with expiring deals, with Gabriel Jesus and Youri Tielemans falling into that category too.

It has been reported that Aouar will leave the French club at the end of the season, and it does remain to be seen where he ends up.

He was playing in the Europa League with Lyon this season, where they were knocked out by West Ham, so operating at that level next term should not be a barrier to Arsenal signing him.

Aouar has been linked with Arsenal so often that some fans may be thinking ‘here we go again’ on this one but on paper, a deal could be done at a shrewd price for a long-term target who has his best years ahead of him.