KEY POINTS

  • Manchester United is now one of Houssem Aouar's suitors, a report said
  • Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly views Aouar as a potential Paul Pogba replacement
  • The midfielder insisted that he is not leaving Lyon

Manchester United may have just found a suitable alternative for transfer-linked midfielder Paul Pogba, a report has suggested.

A number of big-name English Premier League clubs have been tracking Lyon’s Houssem Aouar this summer. Among the midfielder’s most notable suitors are Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham, according to reports. However, Manchester United has now joined the race, ESPN reported, citing unnamed sources.

Aouar is still under contract with Lyon for two more years, but the Ligue 1 side is already considering offloading the player, according to the report.

Arsenal and Tottenham remain the frontrunners in landing the 23-year-old, but Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sees Aouar as “a good replacement for Pogba,” who has been on the radar of Paris Saint-Germain, the report said.

Prior to Manchester United’s emergence as Aouar’s new suitor, an earlier report said Arsenal has already taken another step in its pursuit of the Frenchman.

The Gunners are said to have tabled an offer to Lyon, and things have been “moving well” between all parties involved, French outlet Le10 Sport reported earlier this month. Aouar’s potential move to the Emirates Stadium is described as “accelerating” but is still a “secret” at the moment, the report said.

As for Lyon’s demands, the French club is believed to be expecting a bid around the region of €20 million to 25 million ($23.58 million to 29.58 million) for Aouar, a figure the report deemed as not too overwhelming for Arsenal.

What’s even more interesting is that Lyon is believed to be firm on its stance not to sell Aouar, but if the club's higher-ups “receive a suitable offer,” they are likely to consider letting go of the player, according to the report.

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
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

Despite being strongly linked to a move away from Lyon, Aouar said that all reports saying he is departing the club 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.”

Aouar is one of the most remarkable attacking midfielders in the sport today. This past season, he bagged a total of seven goals that went along with three assists in 30 matches across all competitions.

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