Lyon Star Aouar Agrees To Join Arsenal

Olympique Lyon skipper Houssem Aouar has reportedly agreed to join Arsenal – after receiving no concrete offers from Barcelona or Juventus.

According to Telefoot, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a deal agreed with the Aouar,  and now he needs to raise cash in order to bring the £54million-rated playmaker to the Emirates.

The 22-year-old is said to be Arteta’s number one transfer target before next month’s deadline – although Aouar reportedly dreamed of signing for either LaLiga giants Barcelona or Serie A champs Juventus.

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Arsenal have managed to sell Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa for £20million.

But they still want to offload Lucas Torreira, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac to fund a move for Aouar.

SunSport reported earlier this week how Arsenal are doing everything they can to secure Aouar’s services, with a new bid expected shortly.

And according to French outlet Telefoot, the North Londoners have now officially submitted an offer for the midfielder.

The report comes just hours after Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas expressed doubt whether Arsenal would have the funds to sign Aouar.

Aulas, 71, stressed last week that Arteta’s side couldn’t afford the Frenchman, and he has again echoed similar thoughts.

Speaking to Le Progres via GFFN about Arsenal’s pursuit of Aouar, he said: “Financially, Arsenal are like everyone else (in a tricky spot).

And Houssem could say to himself that the best thing would be to stay with us.”
Arsenal’s bid may mean the club have chosen to prioritise a move for Aouar over landing Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey.

Partey, 27, was the first to be linked, yet in recent weeks, Lyon captain Aouar appears to have become the main man.