Outspoken Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas has responded to claims, via Telefoot, that Arsenal has reached an agreement with Houssem Aouar over a move to the Emirates.
Reports yesterday claimed that the midfielder has agreed on personal terms with Arsenal and that the Gunners have tabled a 35m euros initial bid for his signature.
That bid falls short of the French side’s valuation of the 22-year-old and the Gunners are expected to return with an improved offer.
Responding to the reports that the midfielder has agreed to join Arsenal, Aulas claimed that he expects the midfielder to be part of Lyon’s team to face Lorient this weekend and that the Gunners are far from his valuation.
He Tweeted: “Transfers: Houssem Aouar (OL) in agreement with Arsenal -
@OL: there will be very few starts: for Houssem Arsenal is too far from his value: we are counting on him to play a great match in Lorient and lead OL in CL next year ”
Arsenal has shown the willingness to back Mikel Arteta in this transfer window and the Spaniard will be confident that he will get his man before the transfer window shuts.
The midfielder also appears to be willing to move to the Emirates, which is the first step towards the transfer happening.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey are two other midfield targets that the Gunners are looking to buy this summer.
But according to the Mail, they have only made an offer for Aouar and it remains unclear if they will sign more than one of them.
Our hands are tied, we need to shift players nobody wants first. We have identified the weakness we so obviously have in midfield with Partey and Aoer, with xhaka being so poor. The problem is we have our hand tied tight in more eays than one. We can challenge top 4 with those two, it will be difficult without, problem lies with the prices, our squad quotas and us wanting to shift the duds out.
What’s wrong with you about Xhaka? He’s been playing fine lately, the problem is he doesn’t have a reliable partner to cover him up. Torreira sadly doesn’t seem to be built for the EPL, not that he had many chances to prove himself though… I would go for Partey instead of Aouar, despite that we may need both!
Its not a problem, its a fact, hes a weak link and while he is in the team we will have a midfield what he is, AVERAGE. We get over run when he is in the team and he wouldn’t get in any top 6 team, so why do some arsenal people think he is good enough for us. i say what i see and i dont see a midfielder in him good enough to play us into the top 4. He would be great at West ham and Palace, their star player but he is so limited for top level.
Plus its good to see Arteta sees that also. Its just a matter of wether we can get Artetas favoured midfield. My problem is, i doubt it.
Can’t see Partey now.
All outgoing funds raised going towards getting the Aouar deal over the line.
If we can shift Lucas and or Mustafi’s (as cash deals), Aouar should join next week.
Aulas is simply playing the usual pre move mind games.
Again, as I’ve said on here before – Aouar is ours to lose !
It will eventually happen!