Arsenal Transfer Target ‘Resigns Himself’ To Move Due To Lack Of Better Offers

Arsenal's summer transfer target Houssem Aouar has 'resigned himself' to joining the Gunners, despite his initial hopes of joining a Champions League club.

That's according to a report in French newspaper L'Equipe, which claims the Lyon playmaker is now open to an Arsenal move.

However it's also reported that the 22-year-old was at first holding out to join a team challenging in Europe's top club competition this season. Juventus and Manchester City were the player's dream moves, according to L'Equipe.

Arsenal are believed to have had a £33 million bid turned down for Aouar, with Lyon demanding around £44 million for the France Under-21 star, who received his first senior call-up in August. The Ligue 1 club are urgently trying to raise cash in this transfer window.

Central midfield is seen as a key area where Mikel Arteta's side need to strengthen if they're to build on their improved performances since the Spanish manager took over in December.

Arsenal have also been linked to Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey. The all-action Ghanaian is reportedly available for a fee of around £45 million but it remains to be seen if Arsenal can splash £40+ million twice to boost their midfield options by adding both players.

How Arsenal fans react to the suggestion that Aouar is merely 'resigned' to joining Arsenal after seeing there was a lack of interest elsewhere is fascinating.

At least it shows the player is aiming for the very top, rather than just grabbing the nearest paycheque and a ticket to London. Also, if Aouar scores a screamer on his debut probably nobody will care.

Before any of that, the deal has to happen and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has claimed the two clubs are still far apart in their valuation.

"There was a timid offer," he said this week of Arsenal's bid. "We felt like either they didn't consider the fact that this is a player in the French national team."

"So it was not an offer that was even susceptible to making us consider a sale."

At least Aouar himself is now susceptible to a move to the Emirates, even if that was not always the case.

All imagery: PA Images

Topics: Arsenal News, Houssem Aouar, Transfers, Premier League, Arsenal, Transfer news, Lyon

Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

@otheralexreid