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Report: £36m Arsenal target was supposed to leave his current club this summer

Houssem Aouar of Olympique Lyon controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Ba...
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Lyon’s French midfielder Houssem Aouar reacts after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais and Girondins de Bordeaux on November 3, 2018, at the… (ALEX MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images)

CalcioMercato are reporting that Arsenal target Houssem Aouar would have left Lyon this summer if it weren’t for the ongoing financial crisis brought on by the continuing pandemic.

It’s unknown where he would have ended up as Lyon’s director has confirmed that he had three offers for the midfielder over the summer, including one from Arsenal that didn’t quite meet the Ligue 1 club’s valuation of him.

Lyon were reportedly asking for £36 million for their star man this summer.

Fortunately, it seems as though he may still move clubs at the end of this season, but the bad news for Arsenal is that they don’t seem to be in pole position for his signature.

CalcioMercato have outlined Juventus’ plans to go back in for Aouar and with a stronger approach than they had before.

Aouar seems destined to move on to a bigger club than Lyon eventually, and it seems as though he could end up playing under Andrea Pirlo in Turin if the Italian giants get their way.

However, that isn’t to say that Arsenal couldn’t jump to the front of the queue.

Houssem Aouar of Olympique Lyonnais reacts during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Olympique Lyonnais and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Groupama Stadium on November 7, 2018… (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

If they are to sign him, they will have to put together a more lucrative financial package than they offered last summer, as Lyon’s General Manager didn’t seem too impressed when discussing their bid earlier this month.

Aouar’s situation has worked in the Gunners’ favour, he would have left Lyon this summer if not for the ongoing financial crisis, but because he didn’t leave France, the Gunners may get a second bite at the cherry when it comes to attempting to bring him in.

Where Aouar ends up remains to be seen, but it’s certainly interesting to hear that he wouldn’t have been a Lyon player this season if everything went to plan.

Houssem Aouar
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images