Houssem Aouar to Arsenal: Transfer latest as Lyon confirm rejected Matteo Guendouzi bid - 7M sport

Houssem Aouar to Arsenal: Transfer latest as Lyon confirm rejected Matteo Guendouzi bid



Posted Wednesday, September 09, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Arsenal are interested in signing Houssem Aouar from Lyon and have had an opening bid rejected for the midfielder. Express Sport brings you all the latest rumours surrounding the Gunners' interest.

Arsenal have yet to return with an improved offer for Lyon's Houssem Aouar after having a cash-plus-player bid rejected for the midfielder several weeks ago, it has been claimed. Mikel Arteta is understood to be a huge admirer of the France international as he looks to upgrade his midfield.

Despite having re-signed Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid, reports indicated that Arsenal had an offer in the region of £31million, which also included Matteo Guendouzi, rejected.

Lyon do not want Guendouzi, who has been frozen out at Arsenal since the end of June, as part of any deal despite his quality.

Aouar has meanwhile established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young midfield players at Lyon, where he has been deployed as an attack-minded central midfielder, a defensive midfielder and also as a left-sided attacker.

The 22-year-old produced nine goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants last season.

And having previously been hailed by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola after Lyon faced the Citizens in the Champions League, Arteta is also said to be a big fan of the player's talents.

But what's the latest with the north London club's interest? Express Sport rounds up all you need to know.

Houssem Aouar to Arsenal: Transfer latest as Lyon confirm rejected Matteo Guendouzi bid
Houssem Aouar to Arsenal transfer latest as Lyon confirm Matteo Guendouzi bid rejected (Image: GETTY)

Houssem Aouar to Arsenal: Transfer latest as Lyon confirm rejected Matteo Guendouzi bid
Houssem Aouar to Arsenal transfer latest as Lyon confirm Matteo Guendouzi bid rejected (Image: GETTY)

£31m Aouar bid rejected

RMC Sport's Mohamed Bouhafsi insists that despite Arteta's admiration for the player, Arsenal have yet to return with a second proposal.

Bouhafsi tweeted: "#Arsenal contacted several weeks ago the #OL for #Aouar by offering money + Guendouzi. Offer refused by #OL.

"Arteta loves Aouar's profile. Since Arsenal has not returned to the charge."

Lyon not keen on Guendouzi

Lyon chief Juninho Pernambucano confirmed to RMC's Top of the Foot radio show on Tuesday that talks had taken place but that they do not want to bring Guendouzi back to his home country.

He said: "I get along very well with the [Arsenal] sports director [Edu]. We spoke on the phone.

"Houssem Aouar is really appreciated by Arteta. There have been some discussions for Matteo Guendouzi who is also a good player.

"He was mentioned during the discussion, but this is not the profile we need, we were very clear. If it is like that, it does not interest us at all – it is, and we stopped.”

£62m price a problem

The Athletic's David Ornstein says Aouar's price could be a sticking point for the Gunners.

It is thought it could take as much as £62m to sign the exciting Frenchman, which would make him Arsenal's second most expensive signing of all time.

"Arsenal have also held some level of discussions around the Lyon creative midfielder Houssem Aouar," he told The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast.

"It's going to be a difficult one because of the price. We know he's a player that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal hugely admire.

"There's a lot still to play out, the future of Matteo Guendouzi, potentially a sale for Alexandre Lacazette and the sort of money that both of those deals would bring in as well.

"So loads of moving parts I think at Arsenal like with many clubs at the moment. And [Hector] Bellerin is one of them."

Houssem Aouar to Arsenal: Transfer latest as Lyon confirm rejected Matteo Guendouzi bid
Houssem Aouar to Arsenal transfer latest as Lyon confirm Matteo Guendouzi bid rejected (Image: GETTY)

Arteta 'in love' with Aouar

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently went as far to say that Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy are "in love" with Aouar, who has also been linked to City and Juventus among others.

"I think it's difficult about Aouar, because we were speaking about €50million for Thomas Partey," Romano told Arsenal fan Lee Gunner in an interview on YouTube.

"If we speak about Aouar we are speaking about €60m or €70m, so it will be so difficult to take Aouar.

"For sure what I can guarantee is that the Arsenal board is in love with Aouar, Mikel Arteta is also in love with Aouar.

"For sure they will try but many other clubs have tried, there are rumours here in Italy with Juventus.

"The same that Juventus say 'we like the player but it will be difficult to pay €60m or €70m this summer'.

"His agents have said they need time and he had a terrible season until the end of August, we have been playing all the summer and he wants to relax and decide in September.

"We need to wait to see if Arsenal, Manchester City or Juventus will go with an important bid.

"At the moment there is no club that has offered Lyon €60m.

"We have to always remember we are in COVID, it will be difficult to pay this kind of money."



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