Tottenham rival Arsenal for bargain Houssem Aouar transfer

Tottenham Interest in Aouar Likely Negotiation Tactics

As per a source few should give much credence to, Le10Sport, they insisted that Arsenal have made a bid of under €20m for Aouar with Lyon holding out for just over that. Additionally in their report they included Tottenham entering the party, which has since been backed up Julien Laurens.

Fairly well connected, he states Spurs have entered the race with Arsenal still keen.

There is less of a sense of ‘Tottenham are getting involved so Arsenal move quick’ and more ‘so, erm, Tottenham are involved, Arsenal you best pay attention and, you know, make a bid and that, please’.

In other words, negotiation tactics to try and speed up a sale.

Spurs could absolutely be keen but it’s hard to see where Aouar fits into their team. If anything, that part of the pitch is the one within Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad that is most covered.

Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko all either can or do play as No. 8’s, and if Santo instills his back three system he prefers two less attack-minded central midfielders. Aouar has the capability to play on the left of that front three yet Santo prefers pace in those areas.

Due to the price he’s available at, however, it could easily be a case of signing the player then working out the finer details afterwards.

Even without any European football – Spurs’ Conference League is unlikely to swing the pendulum – Arsenal would surely find themselves in a position where they have the upper hand over their rivals.

A history of French players, a club known for enticing wages and a long-standing interest should see them through so long as any other European big-hitters don’t consolidate their interest.

Which is why it seems as if Aouar could be a backup to other targets. Edu is said to be persisting with Manuel Locatelli and while a totally different player, if that fails as everyone expects it to then whatever money isn’t spent could be invested elsewhere.

It remains to be seen but if Arsenal really, really wanted Aouar, surely they would have done something by now. The clock is ticking.