Arsenal Running Out Of Time In Bid For Aouar

KEY POINTS

Arsenal needs to seal a deal with Houssem Aouar fast with the transfer deadline approaching
The Gunners need to meet the asking fee of Lyon
Lyon is ready to play on with or without Aouar

Time is running out for Arsenal FC in terms of the club's pursuit of Houssem Aouar. It is no secret that the Gunners have their sights set on the 22-year-old midfielder. However, they need to make a credible offer for the Lyon player and it should be made soon.

The transfer deadline is on Oct. 5, meaning the Gunners have less than a week to pitch an acceptable offer. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said in an interview with Canal+ that the deal could be done by Friday or not at all.

“There was a timid offer. 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,” Aulas said.

Aulas had rebuffed a report from L’Equipe that Aouar agreed personal terms with Arsenal. The Gunners did pitch a second bid roughly around $44 million. Lyon wants an estimated $56 million, the valuation of the Les Gones player.

Arsenal has not been spared from the financial crunch that most clubs are dealing with. Most find themselves strapped for cash, forcing some to carefully skim their lineups and deal away players who are not being utilized.

For Mikel Arteta, the need to address key positions fast is a need. The transfer deadline is days away, and their recent 3-1 defeat to Liverpool could ramp up bids for new blood to fill in key positions on the Gunners’ end.

In August, the club proposed that 55 members of its staff were to be made redundant due to the financial impact of the coronavirus. Despite moves to curb their financial woes, club owner Stan Kroenke plans to continue investments in the team. That could include Aouar if they can improve their bid.

"We will tell the players that whatever will not be settled in terms of departures before Friday, there will be no more departures," Aulas said. "So for us the [closing] date of the transfer window will be Friday.”

Aouar is seen as a good fit for the system of Arteta. Should a deal push through, he would join Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos as players occupying the midfield position.