The Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has insisted he is ‘not disappointed’ to have stayed at the club, despite reports he was a target for Arsenal, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window.
Aouar was strongly linked with Arsenal, in particular, throughout the summer period.
And according to RMC Sport, the Gunners’ interest progressed to a €36 million (£32.7m) offer, which they planned to up to €38 million (£34.5m).
In the end, Arsenal paid a significantly higher fee of £45.4m to free Thomas Partey from his Atletico Madrid contract, leaving Aouar in Lyon.
But asked about his failure to move while on international duty with France this week, the 22-year-old told RMC: “I am in a state of mind with a lot of motivation to have a good season with my club and make up for lost points.
“We will try to have the best season and put the club back in its place, ie in the best French places.
“No, I’m not disappointed (about staying). On the contrary. I stay at home in the club of my heart with my friends and my family. I have all my bearings. It gives me even more motivation to do a good season, as I said. We have a quality squad, there are very good players, offensively, especially with some arrivals. Now we will have to demonstrate it on the field a little more than at the start of the season.”
Asked about talk of a move to PSG, Aouar replied: “Honestly I do not want to talk about that, he evacuated. We closed the transfer window. I will especially go concentrate on what I have to do in club and in selection.”
Aouar helped Lyon to the Champions League semi-finals last season, though they could only finish seventh in Ligue 1.
And it is not hard to imagine the French side cashing in on the newly-capped France star next summer, should they fail to qualify again.
Aouar will have two years left on his contract then, after which point a player’s transfer value tends to decrease.
Arsenal fans – could the Gunners return for Aouar in 2021?
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