Houssem Aouar has indicated he could be willing to stay at Lyon beyond the end of next season after Arsenal’s failed move for him during the transfer window.
Arsenal had a £32million opening bid rejected by Lyon, who were holding out for a deal worth up to £54million, a price the Gunners were simply unwilling to reach even for one of their top midfield targets.
Aouar would have welcomed the chance to join Arsenal but was unmoved by the failure of his transfer. Indeed he was said to be relaxed when Lyon told him late last week that they were not prepared to let him leave.
Should he continue to produce the form he displayed in the latter stages of last season’s Champions League, where he was the shining light in Lyon’s surprise run to the semi-finals, then interest in Aouar is certain to remain high.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 2")
Arsenal remain in the market for a creative midfielder of his profile to eventually supplement Thomas Partey whilst Juventus and Real Madrid were linked with his services in recent weeks. Indeed Zinedine Zidane, manager of the latter club, was glowing in his praise of Aouar even whilst ruling out a bid this summer.
Yet Aouar, who has been with Lyon since he was 11 years old, has indicated he is prepared to go beyond the 2020/21 season with his current club.
“I discussed a lot with [Lyon sporting director] Juninho,” Aouar told Telefoot. “He shows me his confidence every day: it’s a real pleasure to work with him.
“To stay here for another season, or more, with him, it’s a great pride.”
Aouar added: “I’m happy to stay in Lyon. It’s my city, my club: it’s a great pride to represent OL.
“It wasn’t necessarily Arsenal or nothing else, even though at the end it was basically that. I had to make a decision, and I am happy to stay here.”
Though Arsenal would miss out on Aouar they ultimately secured the services of Partey on deadline day, activating the £45million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract.
Much like Aouar, Partey was intrigued by the prospect of moving to the Emirates Stadium but ultimately Arsenal had a mechanism available to them to secure the Ghanaian that was not available in their pursuit of the Lyon midfielder.
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