Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas says Arsenal’s latest bid for Houssem Aouar was rejected because it was ‘timid’ and did not reflect the midfielder’s quality.
The Gunners have had two bids turned down for the 22-year-old, with the latest believed to be in the region of £32million.
Lyon were seeking around £55m for the Frenchman at the start of the transfer window but the Ligue 1 club are said to have lowered that asking price and would accept closer to £46m.
However, there remains a significant difference in valuations between the two parties and Aulas says Arsenal’s bid was nowhere near good enough.
Asked about the nature of Arsenal’s bid and why it was rejected, Aulas said: ‘There was a timid offer. We felt like either they didn’t consider the fact that this is a player in the French national team.
‘So it was not an offer that was even susceptible to making us consider a sale.’
The Frenchman was then asked what Lyon’s asking price for Aouar is, with the interviewer asking if it was £36m or £46m.
Though Aulas failed to confirm the club’s exact valuation, he replied: ‘It is certainly more than the first number that you mentioned’.
That would indicate that the club are looking for somewhere between £40-£46m for the midfielder.
Time is running out for Arsenal to complete a move for the playmaker as the transfer window closes next Monday.
