- Arsenal predicted line-up against Nottingham Forest
- Arsenal keen on signing Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams
- Arsenal urged to sign Alexander Isak to win the PL title
- Arsenal eye swoop to sign Sporting star Ousmane Diomande
- Arsenal make contact to sign Real Madrid star Arda Guler
- Arsenal keen on signing Las Palmas star Alberto Moleiro
- Arsenal ‘determined’ to sign Las Palmas star Alberto Moleiro
- Arsenal plot swoop to sign Sporting star Geovany Quenda
- Arsenal plot surprise swoop to sign Christian Pulisic
- Arsenal prepared to break the bank to sign Raphinha
Arsenal to offer £100k-a-week deal as Arteta eyes bargain swoop to sign 22y/o star
According to The Sun, Arsenal are set to launch a fresh bid to sign Houssem Aouar and will offer the Lyon midfielder a contract worth £100,000-a-week.
Arsenal were strongly linked with Aouar last summer but were priced out of a move as Lyon were demanding at least £55m for the French international’s signature [source: Sun] and we ended up loaning Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.
However, Odegaard has returned to the Bernabeu so Mikel Arteta is back in the market for a creative midfielder and it looks as though Arsenal are ready to renew their interest in Aouar.
The Sun claims that Arsenal chiefs are set to launch a fresh attempt to sign the 22-year-old and will try and lure Aouar to the Emirates Stadium by offering him a contract worth £100,000-a-week.
And it appears we could land the attacking midfielder at a bargain price this summer as the newspaper says Lyon could be prepared to sell for just £20m after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
That sort of money would be an absolute steal for a player of Aouar’s quality and if this report is accurate, Arsenal should be busting a gut to get a deal in place as quickly as possible.
Creative talent
However, I have my doubts as Lyon are known to be tough negotiators in the transfer market and very rarely sell their key assets on the cheap. Even if their finances have taken a hit without Champions League football, I’d be shocked if they are willing to sell for just £20m.
But I am pleased Arsenal are reportedly ready to renew their interest in Aouar as he’s a quality player and I’d love to see him finally making a move to North London this summer if a deal can be agreed.
Aouar didn’t make the cut for Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the Euros so he’s available to secure a move and undergo any potential medical – which should speed negotiations along.
The youngster scored eight goals and chipped in with another four assists in his 33 appearances but he’s capable of much more and wasn’t at his best last season due to a few niggling injury problems.
Aouar is predominantly a central attacking midfielder but he can play in the No.10 role or from the left side of attack so he’d give Arteta options if he does end up joining Arsenal this summer.