Houssem Aouar has urged Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas to reduce his €60m asking price, as the 22-year-old closes in on a move to the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal Central has been told.
A meeting was held between Aouar, his representatives and Aulas to ask the 71-year-old to lower his demands, with Arsenal also pushing the Lyon president to ease his stance.
The Lyon midfielder, who starred in the club’s Champions League run last season, seems certain he will get his move to North London and has told his friends and family that he will be an Arsenal player by the end of the transfer window.
Alongside Aouar, Arsenal are also trying to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, who has a €50m release clause.
However, unlike the deal for the Lyon midfielder, this cannot be paid in instalments, leading Arsenal to pursue a deal for the 22-year-old first.
A transfer for Thomas Partey is more complex than one for Aouar, as shown in Arsenal Central’s transfer round-up, due to the Gunners trying to include Lucas Torreira in the transfer, whilst Atletico want to pursue the Uruguayan in a separate deal.
Before Arsenal can make a concrete move for both midfielders, not just one, they firstly need to raise enough funds from sales.
The players being ushered out the door include Sokratis, Lucas Torreira, Sead Kolasinac and Matteo Guendouzi, however finding a team who is willing to pay a suitable transfer fee is easier said than done.
Aouar would be a sensational coup for an Arsenal team whose midfield falls very short when compared to the quality of their past, and the possible further addition of Partey would give the Gunners one of the strongest midfields in the Premier League.
With just eight days of the transfer window left, and only one significant senior departure, it is expected to be an exciting, yet tense, finish to see if the North London side can scrape all their deals over the line.
