Arsenal have reportedly opted to move for Eduardo Camavinga over long term target Houssem Aouar this summer as Mikel Arteta seeks to bolster his midfield unit.
According to Le 10 Sport, Arsenal are set to prioritise signing midfield prodigy Eduardo Camavinga over one of their long-term target Houssem Aouar in this window. The sudden change in priorities come after the Gunners carefully assessed both options and decided on their preferred target.
Arsenal have been in the market to acquire midfielders to strengthen their squad following a decision to undergo a massive rebuild. The Gunners are giving every importance to this window as they believe it could be the right time to acquire targets that could benefit the club in the long run.
However, Arsenal are shifting their priorities from one player who has long been linked with the club in recent years. Houssem Aouar endured an indifferent season, failing to reach the heights of the previous ones. Last season he appeared 30 times for Lyon, scoring 7 goals and providing 3 assists.
Those numbers seemed to have cooled down Arsenal’s hot interest in him. The Gunners were on his tail all of last summer, but now they may be looking elsewhere. Moreover, Aouar’s asking price has been slashed considerably by Lyon, as they are now asking for close to £25 million, while last summer, the asking price was for around £40 million and £50 million.
With two years left on his deal, Lyon are ready to cash in on him and believe one club or another will come through asking for Aouar. Apart from Arsenal, Juventus and Real Madrid were showing some interest. Although at this moment, Atletico Madrid are believed to be the suitors most interested in acquiring him.
As for Arsenal, the North London club are now targeting a move for Rennes sensation Eduardo Camavinga. The French prodigy is set to cost a lot more, but Arsenal and other interested clubs believe a sensible agreement could be reached with Rennes, with the player set to run his contract down with one year left.
The figures Arsenal are willing to pay remain unclear, but it could be around the between the £35 million and £45 million mark. Camavinga is proving to be an all-around star, showing excellent signs of improvement in all areas a midfielder can perform in. Be it defensively or offensively, making tackles or bringing the ball out of tight spaces; the midfielder has all of those attributes.
With Granit Xhaka close to a departure to Roma once he concludes his campaign at UEFA Euro 2020, the Swiss midfielder will leave a gaping hole in midfield. However, instead of looking for a like-for-like replacement, Arsenal are searching for a different profile, and Camavinga fits the bill.
Camavinga is chased by some of Europe’s elite, with Real Madrid and PSG often linked with the midfielder. Los Blancos lack the funds for an ambitious transfer, while PSG are also operating with limited funds and seem to put all their eggs in the basket that acquires them Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan.
Camavinga will surely be a good fit for Arsenal or, in general, in the Premier League. As things move along, it will be clear what decision the midfielder might make regarding his future, although a move away from Rennes seems imminent.
