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Houssem Aouar to Arsenal risks falling through as European transfer rivals make approach
Arsenal are looking to do business late in the transfer window with Houssem Aouar a top target.
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Arsenal now reportedly face competition from Juventus for the signing of Houssem Aouar before the transfer window closes. The Gunners are moving quick to try and lure the 22-year-old to the Emirates with time running out before the October 5 deadline.
Aouar confirmed talks were taking place between Lyon and Arsenal regarding a transfer earlier this week.
“There are contact with clubs, I don’t know yet," he said.
“We’ll see what happens in the future."
Arsenal have reportedly made a bid of £32million already, but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists it would take a significantly higher offer to make a deal happen.
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“There was a timid offer," he told Canal+.
“We felt like they didn’t consider the fact that this is a player in the French national team.
“So, it was an offer that did not even make us consider making a sale.”
It has been suggested that Lyon are working on contingency plans to bring in a replacement should Aouar leave the club.
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But Arsenal may not be the only club at the negotiating table.
According to RMC Sport, Juventus have made their interest very clear.
It is claimed the Serie A champions contacted Lyon on Monday to express their interest.
However, it is said Juventus are yet to have made a formal offer - or at least hadn't on Monday.
Juventus have already made big changes to their squad this summer, particularly in midfield.
Miralem Pjanic, Emre Can, Blaise Matuidi and Simone Muratore have all left the club permanently with Arthur and Weston McKennie joining.
They are well stocked in the middle with Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey, Rodrigo Bentancur and Sami Khedira also available to Andrea Pirlo.
Ramsey, McKennie and Rabiot have been the preferred three in midfield through their opening two games of the season.
For Arsenal, they're still hoping to sell Lucas Torreira with both Atletico Madrid and Torino reportedly interested.