Reported Arsenal and Liverpool target Houssem Aouar currently lacks the attitude to match his ability, with former Lyon coach Alain Perrin likening the midfielder to Hatem Ben Arfa and Dimitri Payet, via L’Equipe.
With Rudi Garcia’s side locked in a three-way battle with PSG and Lille for the top-flight crown, you would be forgiven for assuming that Aouar was the inspiration behind Lyon’s title charge.
It may come as a surprise to learn, then, that the mercurial play-maker is not even guaranteed a place in the OL line-up these days.
Aouar was left out of the XI against Rennes earlier this month, before being hooked at half-time after another underwhelming display with Lyon a goal down at Reims this weekend.
In fact, there is an argument to be made that the homegrown hero is not even Lyon’s most exciting midfielder these days. That honour may now go to 21-year-old France youth star Maxence Caqueret.
According to Perrin, Aouar shares a few concerning similarities with two hugely talented footballers who perhaps lacked the motivation and the mentality required to fulfil their vast potential.
“Aouar, I do not say that he chooses his matches because it is not that, but it may be hard for him to get motivated for smaller matches,” Perrin, the one-time Portsmouth boss, explained.
“He has talent, it is not a question of ability but rather of state of mind.
“It is not easy. I experienced that with Dimitri (Payet) at St-Etienne and Hatem (Ben Arfa) at Lyon. They are often there in the big games.”
Of course, Payet and Ben Arfa produced a fair few highlight-reel moments during their time in the Premier League. But, if Liverpool or Arsenal are going to pay the £50 million Lyon want for Aouar, consistency will be expected.
Calciomeracto reports that Arsenal are still very much in the race for a gifted play-maker they made a £35 million bid for last summer.
Goal, meanwhile, claims that Aouar is also a target for Liverpool. It seems unlikely, however, that Jurgen Klopp will afford much patience to a player whose work rate – or a lack there-of – is starting to come into question.
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