Speaking recently on a video posted on YouTube by The Mirror, John Cross claimed that Olympique Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar will not be joining Arsenal in the current transfer window.
Making his Lyon debut as an 18-year-old back in 2017, Aouar has so far featured 141 times for the Ligue 1 side, scoring 25 goals and providing 27 assists along the way.
Last season, the £44.55 million-rated 22-year-old highly impressed for Les Gones, scoring three goals and providing four assists over his 25 appearances in Ligue 1, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.02 – ranking him as the club’s joint-fourth-best performer in the league – as well as scoring one goal and providing four assists over his eight appearances in the club’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.55.
As a result of his fine performances, Mikel Arteta was said to be keen on bringing the French U21 international to the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window, however, speaking recently on a video posted on YouTube by The Mirror, Cross claimed that it appears that the midfielder will be remaining at Lyon.
He said: “I can say with some degree of certainty that he will remain at his club as the window shuts later. Arsenal have been after him – they wanted him, but I think their valuation is miles away from what [Lyon’s] valuation is.”
Do you think Arsenal will try to sign Aouar in January, if they don't sign him on Monday?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
From Cross’ comments, it is clear that the journalist is of the belief that Arsenal do indeed want to get a deal done for Aouar prior to the 23:00 transfer deadline tonight, however, he feels the 22-year-old will not be making a move to the Premier League in the current transfer window as Arsenal have not offered Lyon anywhere near what they are asking for to let the player leave.
As such, it would appear that, at present, should Arteta really wish to make Aouar an Arsenal player, he will have to wait until the January transfer window to try and do so.