Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar has revealed he is likely to stay with the Ligue One side beyond this season if his team can qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal and Tottenham were both reportedly given the chance to sign the France international in the summer, but the 23-year-old ended up remaining at Lyon.

Now, Aouar seems to be setting his sights on staying with Lyon for the long term, as long as his current club can fulfil his ambitions:

“As someone who’s from Lyon, to be able to play in the Champions League in this stadium is something I’d like to be able to do again – all of that is down to qualifying this season. Then I’d like to win a trophy, because that’s what’s missing the most for me at this club. I’m fully concentrated on Lyon. Playing in the Champions League again with my hometown club is an objective and a dream of mine.”

The Gunners have been long-term admirers of Aouar but they failed to make a formal bid for the Frenchman before the transfer window closed, despite reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming they had been offered the player.

Whether they had simply moved on to other targets, it is not known, but Aouar looks to have settled on remaining at Lyon. Of course, as we have seen many times over the years, the player may have a change of heart if a club such as Arsenal come calling again.