Arsenal have seen a bid for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, involving cash plus Mattéo Guendouzi, rejected by the French club.
That’s what L’Equipe report today, stating that the Gunners are the only club to have made a serious bid for Aouar this summer.
The highly-rated midfielder has been linked with a big-money move away from Lyon this summer, with Manchester City often rumoured to be making a move.
However, L’Equipe report that they are yet to show serious interest and instead it is Arsenal who tried to get him ahead of the competition.
According to the newspaper, the Gunners offered an exchange, including Guendouzi and money, although they do not reveal what the cash sum was.
What they do say, though, is that the bid was dismissed out of hand by Lyon. They ‘simply need money’ and not an extra midfielder, even if Aouar leaves.
That means they have zero interest in signing Guendouzi, who it is clear Arsenal are desperate to get rid of this summer.
Whether they will return for Aouar remains to be seen.
A deal that would have seen Guendouzi going the other way would have made sense, but it’s debatable whether they’d have the cash to match Lyon’s asking price for their star midfielder.
Perhaps if they can find a buyer for Guendouzi then they will be able to up their bid and get Mikel Arteta a player he actually wants.
