Liverpool have reportedly joined Arsenal and Real Madrid in the race to sign Houssem Aouar from Lyon in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, the list of suitors in pursuit of Houssem Aouar just keeps on getting beefed up. Liverpool are the latest club to have shown an interest in the French international, who is also the subject of interest from Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Aouar joined the Lyon academy aged 11 and subsequently made rapid progress within the youth ranks at the French club before breaking into the first-team setup ahead of his 19th birthday in 2017. Since then, the player has grown exponentially and is now a mainstay in midfield for Les Gones, while also having broken into the French national side.
His progress had seen him being heavily linked with a move away from Lyon last summer before he decided to stay put. This term, Aouar has been impressive again, with 6 goals and 3 assists in 24 appearances, and his exploits have seen him appear on the radars of top European clubs again. These include Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Real Madrid are set for a squad overhaul starting this summer following a highly inconsistent campaign. In particular, midfield appears set to be addressed, seeing as Isco continues to face an uncertain future at the club while Luka Modric is in the twilight of his career. Additionally, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard, on loan at Arsenal, could well be sold in the summer as well.
Aouar is, therefore, a viable target for Real Madrid, who have been touted to be inching closer to his signature in recent times. As for Arsenal, their continued interest is not surprising, considering the fact that the aforementioned loanees from Real Madrid – Ceballos and Odegaard – are not certain to be signed permanently in the summer.
If they do fail to land the duo, Mikel Arteta will need at least one midfield reinforcement, thereby making the addition of someone like Aouar imperative for Arsenal. Meanwhile, Liverpool are the latest entrants in the race to sign the 22-year-old.
The Reds, like Real Madrid, are set for a summer that will see the squad being remodelled. One of the changes, though, could be forced, with Georginio Wijnaldum’s future at Liverpool being highly uncertain. Aouar, to that end, could be a natural replacement at Anfield, and a player who could perhaps add to Wijnaldum’s qualities as well.
As per the report, though, Lyon will not let Aouar leave on the cheap due to the ever-increasing competition, and have slapped a €60 million price tag on him. The report adds that Real Madrid are the favourites to sign him, although his valuation might bring the others into contention. It now remains to be seen which way Aouar ends up going this summer.
