Arsenal and Newcastle United are reportedly embroiled in a transfer tussle to sign 24-year-old French midfielder Houssem Aouar from Lyon.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Houssem Aouar will likely leave Lyon as a free agent in the 2023 summer transfer window. The 24-year-old midfielder is a target for Arsenal and Newcastle United over a possible Bosman move next year.
Houssem Aouar has had a peculiar career thus far. The French midfielder was once one of the most highly sought-after players in Europe, with some of the continent’s biggest clubs chasing him. But his stock has fallen considerably after failing to secure a move away from Lyon.
The 24-year-old has been in and out of the starting lineups at the Groupama Stadium in the past year. And Aouar has featured only once for Lyon thus far in the 2022/23 season, falling to the bottom of the pecking order at the French club. And after entering the final year of his contract, he will likely leave Les Gones as a free agent, with Arsenal and Newcastle United setting sights on him.
Arsenal had been one of the clubs chasing Aouar at the peak of his powers before a move failed to materialise. But the Gunners have since invested in several midfielders, with Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Fabio Vieira arriving at the Emirates. So it is hard to see how Aouar might fit at Arsenal.
But the north Londoners have shown interest in several midfielders, including Lovro Majer. And Aouar will be a low-risk alternative if signing a midfielder becomes a priority for Arsenal next summer. On the other hand, Newcastle United might be keen on landing a midfielder after failing to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon.
Another Lyon midfielder has now emerged on Newcastle United’s radar, with the Tyneside club eager to bring in a new midfielder in the coming transfer windows. The Magpies have shown interest in several midfielders of late, including Youri Tielemans, with Aouar emerging as a viable target.
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Apart from Arsenal and Newcastle, the 24-year-old French midfielder is also a target for Juventus. And as Aouar edges closer to becoming a free agent, a Bosman move to one of the three clubs might be on the cards for him in the 2023 summer transfer window.
