Arsenal have a bargain opportunity to help Mikel Arteta’s midfield issues in the upcoming transfer windows. Houssem Aouar has been linked to the club previously, and his contract situation could explain why a deal is reportedly being explored once again.
According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, multiple Premier league clubs were interested in signing Aouar in the summer. The report went on to say that Lyon valued him at £12.6m.
The Gunners will be in desperate need of a midfielder in the January transfer window. Considering the club's previous interest in Aouar, and his current availability, it’s certainly be a deal that Edu could look to explore.
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It is potentially because of his transfer situation that Arteta’s Arsenal and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United are interested in signing Houssem Aouar from Lyon, according to Italian news outlet, Calciomercato.
Aouar’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning Arsenal can sign him on a pre-contract agreement in January, and secure his services without having to pay a transfer fee.
The north London side has seemed to target players who have excellent ball-carrying skills. With Thomas Partey anchoring the midfield and Martin Odegaard being tasked with leading the team in creating chances, having a midfielder who can successfully carry the ball from defence to midfield is crucial.
The 24-year-old Frenchman made 29 starts and seven substitute appearances in the league last season, scoring six goals and providing four assists in the process.
Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are two players whose place in the team are currently untouchable. Albert Sambi Lokogna and Mohammed Elneny are the two backup players, but their levels in terms of experience and quality do not compare with the two starters.
Partey has missed 50% of Premier League with Arsenal since joining the club in 2020 due to consistent injury issues, while Xhaka has had suspension difficulties in the past, meaning both players cannot be relied on to consistently start together.
Aouar would be able to bridge the quality gap, and a deal would be easy to complete due to his ongoing contract situation. The Frenchman has a been a long-term target for the Gunners and he looks set to be linked with a move for another season.
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