Arsenal are continuing to monitor Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to reports in Italy. The Gunners are thought to be one of three teams interested in the Frenchman, alongside Manchester City and Juventus.
It was confirmed back in September that the London club did make an official approach for the 22-year-old, only to have their offer knocked back. It is believed their €40m (£34.6m) bid fell well short of the player’s €60m (£52m) asking price.
Aouar has had an average campaign at Lyon this season by his standards, and supporters on Twitter are reluctant to get excited about the possibility of the Ligue One star moving to the Emirates:
Not this again. I can’t go through it again
— Maestro_Bambino (@maestro_bambino) March 4, 2021
just because he’s on our radar doesn’t mean other players aren’t
— F (@AFColast) March 4, 2021
Bro ? I'm not ready to get hurt again
— Tazer (@Tazer_720) March 4, 2021
— Dan☔️ (@AFC_Dxn) March 4, 2021
Think we've past that chapter now don't y'all? He isn't the player he was last season so we can't waste the money we don't have ?♀️
— princewill (@willygooner1) March 4, 2021
Rather Buendia pls
— John Chizzy (@johnchizzy7) March 4, 2021
This is gonna be the new Draxler innit
— ProPépé (@ProPep5) March 4, 2021
Fake news. Hes been off for a long time. Club will make Ødegaard permanent, and if not Buendia i the next one
— AFCEA (@afc_ea) March 4, 2021
Is Aouar the new Draxler?
— Chunnu Murmu (@gurugomke) March 4, 2021
Manager Mikel Arteta is thought to be keen on improving his midfield options. Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard will return to Real Madrid after their loan spells end in the summer so there will be space in the squad. Whether Aouar remains a priority target, though, it remains to be seen.