Arsenal’s hopes of signing Houssem Aouar are reportedly over after Lyon communicated that the midfielder will not be leaving in this transfer window.
Aouar has been the Gunners’ number one target with Mikel Arteta desperate to add some creative quality to his midfield before Monday’s deadline.
Talks have been ongoing with Arsenal seeing an initial bid rejected last week.
There was an expectation that the Gunners would return with an improved offer to seal an agreement for the Lyon captain.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 2")
But according to RMC Sport, Lyon have ended negotiations with all clubs for Aouar and Memphis Depay, with their prized assets staying at the club.
The pair will reportedly be included in Lyon’s squad for Sunday’s game against Marseille and it is claimed that neither will leave before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Earlier in the week, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed that two clubs – in addition to Arsenal – were interested in Aouar.
“We know that three big clubs are interested in him. Two in the short-term, one in the long-term,” he said at a press conference. “Not much has happened.
“All the clubs can’t give us financially what Lyon wants.”
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain had been linked with a late move for the midfielder in recent days, but it appears Lyon will be keeping hold of their prized asset until next summer at least.
Arsenal’s seemingly failed pursuit of Aouar leaves first team manager Mikel Arteta with a race against time to add the creative midfielder he craves ahead of the transfer deadline.
And Gunners supporters took to social to react to the reports.
One fan tweeted: “Sack Edu quick. We haven’t sold the players that needed to be gone and we have been the only club negotiating for Aouar for a very long time this summer and haven’t been able to close the deal.
“Raul would have closed this deal 100%.”
Another wrote: “Edu can’t negotiate. Kolasinac, Mustafi, Torreira, Sokratis, Guendouzi all good enough players to be sold yet none have been sold.
“Sanllehi was much better at getting rid of the deadwood. It’s done. We had a free run at Aouar and Partey and didn’t get it done.”
Follow our socials Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google News.
Use ozil insist of aouar