According to The Sun, Arsenal are preparing a contract worth £100,000-a-week for Houssem Aouar, and expect negotiations to run smoothly.
What’s the story?
Well, with the 22-year-old not involved in Didier Deschamps’ EURO 2020 squad, Arsenal expect discussions to be hassle free.
Arsenal have been interested in Lyon’s No.8 for some time now, and tried to sign him in the summer of 2020.
However, at the time, Lyon demanded £55 million, which priced the Gunners out of a move.
Now, after the Ligue 1 outfit failed to qualify for the Champions League, Aouar will cost as little as £20 million.
The Sun believe this fee is well within Arsenal’s price range, hence why a contract is already being drawn up by the north Londoners.
Liverpool are also mentioned as being keen on Aouar in the report.
However, the Gunners are said to be leading the race for the midfielder.
Interestingly, Aouar conceded before Lyon’s final game of the 2020/21 campaign that it could be his last for the club.
No excuses for Mikel Arteta and Edu
If Arsenal can’t get this deal over the line now, then questions have to be asked of Mikel Arteta and Edu.
After all, this is a player who Arsenal have done their homework on, having tried to sign him last summer too.
Now Aouar is available for £35 million less than last year, there are no excuses for Arsenal not to complete this deal.
Of course, if the Frenchman wants Champions League football and goes elsewhere, then the Gunners can’t do anything about that.
However, if he’s up for moving to the Emirates Stadium, it would be incredible if Arsenal fumble this deal.
In every sense, whoever lands Aouar for £20 million would surely be getting the bargain of the summer.
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