Aouar transfer battle escalates as Man City set to move on Arsenal target

Pep Guardiola could be set for a face off with his former no.2 Mikel Arteta over £54million Lyon schemer Houssem Aouar.

Manchester City boss Guardiola is known to be a huge admirer of the 22-year-old, a star of Lyon’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

But Arteta is also a fan and sees the France Under-21 midfielder as the potential creative spark for his revamped side this season.

Now Lyon sporting director Juninho has revealed Arsenal have made the first move for Aouar who scored nine goals and provided 10 assists last season.

The Gunners have been exploring a player-plus-cash offer which would see midfielder Matteo Guendouzi go the other way.

But Juninho has revealed he has no interest in the 21-year-old.

He explained: “I get on very well with [Arsenal technical director] Edu, we spoke on the phone. Aouar is really appreciated by Mikel Arteta.

“Guendouzi was discussed during the call, he is a great player, but he is the wrong profile.

“We are not interested in that at all, we cut the conversation.”

Juninho insisted formal offers have not been tabled for his star man.

He added: ”I think that has been happening directly with agents.”

But he revealed he is aware that Guardiola is equally smitten by Aouar’s talents.

He added: “We were not directly contacted. Maybe [director general] Vincent Ponsot was contacted by Manchester City, I am not sure.

“It is like that with these two teams, two enormous teams who play to win the Champions League every year, they have the capacity for that and that makes any player dream.

“I don’t know if Houssem is ready to change project for a big Ligue 1 team like PSG.

“For City, of course Guardiola likes the player, but is that the profile that they are looking for today? We don’t know that either and we have not received any official offers.”

Would Houssem Aouar be better off at Man City or Arsenal? Have your say in the comments below

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