Houssem Aouar has played down speculation over his future amid recent transfer links to Arsenal.
Aouar, 22, has been linked with a move to the Premier League over the past two years following his impressive performances for Lyon.
The Under-21 France international captained the Ligue 1 club to the semi-finals of this season’s Champions League, knocking out Juventus and Man City before falling to eventual winners Bayern Munich at the semi-final stage.
But despite Lyon’s impressive run, their seventh-place Ligue 1 finish means they will not be playing Champions League football this season – and the financial impact of the coronavirus could tempt them to sell should a suitable offer come in.
With his exceptional passing, dribbling and vision combined with his leadership qualities, Aouar is seen as a natural fit for the likes of Arsenal and City, while Liverpool has been credited with a long-standing interest.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Aouar was asked whether it would be hard to leave Lyon without saying goodbye to a stadium of fans due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The midfielder was then asked whether moving clubs a year before France feature in the European Championships – rescheduled from this summer to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic – could impact his decision considering he has just received his first call-up for Didier Deschamps’ senior team, to which he again replied: “I haven’t left yet!”
Not to be deterred, L’Equipe asked what he wants to do here and now – and Aouar batted back: “That one is very tough… I want us to start well, and that we beat Dijon, to start with.”
