Arsenal Rumors: Gunners Give Final Verdict On Houssem Aouar's Transfer – Report

KEY POINTS

Arsenal may have reached its ceiling in negotiations with Lyon regarding Houssem Aouar's transfer, a report said
The Gunners reportedly don't intend to meet the Ligue 1 side's demands for Aouar
The 23-year-old earlier addressed the rumors being linked to his name

Arsenal might have already set its limitations on the negotiations for one of its longtime targets.

The long courtship between Arsenal and Lyon star Houssem Aouar could be nearing its end. After failing to seal a deal with a reported bid of around €20 million ($23.58 million), Arsenal does “not wish to go beyond” the said figure and has decided to stop discussing Aouar’s potential move, French outlet Le10Sport reported. International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

The Gunners are now “in the process of withdrawing” from Aouar transfer talks after Lyon refused to budge on its reported €20 million to 25 million ($23 million to 29 million) demand for the midfielder’s signature, the report said.

However, the door isn’t completely shut as Arsenal and Lyon are still “trying to see if a common ground” is possible at this point, the report added.

Arsenal has been deemed the favorite to land Aouar, but Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are also said to be keeping tabs on the Frenchman’s situation.

Aouar’s current contract with Lyon will run through 2023, but an earlier report said the Ligue 1 side is already considering offloading the 23-year-old.

Manchester United may already be plotting a move for Aouar, ESPN reported. Apparently, Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has identified him as “a good replacement for Pogba,” who has been linked to a move to Paris Saint-Germain, the report said.

Houssem Aouar in action against Bayern Munich. He is one of those players who could well now be sold by a Lyon side deprived of Champions League football in the new season POOL / Miguel A. Lopes

Aouar has been with Lyon since turning pro in 2016. He has been one of the top performers of the club, but it was only during last summer when he drew attention from big-name clubs, having played his best in the 2018-19 campaign.

Despite being heavily linked to a move away from his beloved club, Aouar said that all reports saying he is departing Lyon are “fake news.”

“Once again, unfortunately, an umpteenth ‘fake news’ story has been released about me on multiple social media accounts,” Aouar said in a statement. “I'm not in the habit of responding to what is said about me...[but I was] sick, I was hospitalized over the weekend. Know that I am a lot better and that I am ready for the future!"

“Thank you to those who have always supported me, in the good times as in the less good times,” he added. “Allez Lyon.”