According to RMC Sport, Arsenal’s bid for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar came to €35million plus an unnamed player.
Reports from L’Equipe and Get French Football News last month suggested that Arsenal had made a cash-plus-player bid for Aoaur, with Matteo Guendouzi offered.
It was unclear just how much Arsenal had offered, but these new reports claim that the cash was €35million (£31.3million) as well as a player – believed to be Guendouzi.
Lyon rejected their approach, as they would seemingly want more cash or a player they’re actually interested in; they don’t seem to want Guendouzi.
Aouar, 22, hit nine goals and 10 assists for Lyon last season, playing in a whole host of midfield roles – and that will make him appealing to Mikel Arteta.
He is perfectly suited to being the lead playmaker in a three-man midfield, but he can also play out wide or as a number 10 if needed, offering greater flexibility than Mesut Ozil.
Aouar is one of the top young midfielders in Europe, so Arsenal will have to come up with a big offer. They don’t have big money to play with right now, so offering Guendouzi was one suggested workaround.
That didn’t work, and Arsenal seemingly haven’t been back with a new bid – and if they’re to land Aouar before next month’s transfer deadline, they need to come up with funds from somewhere.
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