According to RMC Sport, Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Adil Aouchiche has indeed rejected Arsenal in favour of Saint-Etienne.
ESPN claimed in May that Mikel Arteta was keen to bring Aouchiche to Arsenal, with doubts over his long-term future at PSG.
Aouchiche’s deal with the French giants expired on June 30th, and clubs have been queueing up to try and sign him.
It’s now claimed that Aouchiche did have offers on the table from Arsenal and Leicester City, but he has turned both of them down.
Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Rennes also made approaches, but were met with the same response, as Aouchiche has picked Saint-Etienne instead.
Claude Puel has pulled of a massive coup by luring the teenager to the club, and Aouchiche will sign a professional deal with the club imminently.
Aouchiche turned 18 yesterday and can now sign that pro deal, and will hope for regular playing time with Saint-Etienne having managed just three senior appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this past season.
Arsenal may have seen Aouchiche as a potential bargain, but if Arteta wants a new playmaker to come in, he will have to turn his attention elsewhere.
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