Arsenal learn Lyon’s huge Houssem Aouar asking price

Arsenal and Houssem Aouar were two names that were rarely ever seen apart from each other last summer, as every inch of the footballing hemisphere was littered with rumours of the Gunners’ interest in the Lyon man.

Their pursuit was no secret, just as Mikel Arteta’s adoration for his talents was common knowledge.

Due to the perennial financial restrictions placed on Arsenal – even if the annual war chest narrative suggests otherwise – they were in a position to acquire both him and Thomas Partey, with the decision eventually falling by the way of the Ghanaian.

Lyon president and part-time James Bond villain Jean-Michel Aulas set an asking price that Arsenal felt too high for his services, and with an eye on the necessities of the squad as well as financial logistics, made their move.

https://twitter.com/HoussemAouar/status/1367227154753282049

Arsenal learn Lyon’s huge Houssem Aouar asking price as Gunners keep French international on list of summer transfer targets

Tabling a bid thought to be in the region of £35m, Les Gones rejected the offer after wanting closer to £45m. An unpleasant saga that ebbed and flowed and eventually resulted in failure and dejection, the inability to land Arteta’s favoured target hasn’t put Arsenal off the case.

CalcioMercato claim the 22-year-old is still on the club’s radar, facing similar competition as they had done the previous summer. Manchester City join Arsenal in keeping close tabs from the Premier League, with Juventus the other side keenest across Europe.

Real Madrid have been long-term admirers but they face the unfortunate issue of having no money whatsoever. Especially not if they want to sign Kylian Mbappe for his expected fee of £300bn.

Whoever comes in, Lyon will be braced for offers for their star midfielder who has six goals and three assists across 24 appearances this season.

With one year left on his deal and financial issues burdening sides across Ligue 1, could Arsenal secure Houssem Aouar on a cut-price deal?

Lyon Set £47.5m Houssem Aouar Asking Price

As stated, the asking price Lyon have set for the French international appears to be as it was from last season.

Can that really be believed? Aulas is a wily – that’s being nice – operator when it comes to transfer dealings, and his sky-high demands have to be taken with a pinch of salt. He’s previously spoken out on players he will refuse to sell in certain windows only to see them depart days later: Tanguy Ndombele, Alexandre Lacazette and Michael Essien to name a few.

Lyon will refuse to budge from their £47.5m (€55m) asking price, whether that’s with discounts or otherwise. All this despite the club recording losses of £96m – this figure a result of the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic and a shortfall from TV rights – as well as requesting the players to take a 25% pay cut.

It comes across as classic negotiation tactics from the French side, who at this stage are launching a serious push for a first Ligue 1 title since 2008.

Helping them in their title charge is Juventus’ Mattia De Sciglio, who has featured 20 times for the club this campaign and is considered surplus to requirements in Turin. Despite what Lyon are demanding, Andre Pirlo’s side will attempt to include the defender and Federico Bernardeschi as part of their deal to lure Aouar to Serie A.

Arsenal attempted their own swap move when they offered Matteo Guendouzi as part of a deal. It didn’t get far.