‘No contact’ for Houssem Aouar – but Lyon will sell

There has been ‘no contact’ for Liverpool transfer target Houssem Aouar, but Lyon won’t stand in the player’s way if he wants to leave.

The Metro has reported that Liverpool haven’t been in touch with the Ligue 1 side about their star man, but their president said he won’t stand in Houssem Aouar‘s way if he asks to leave.

Aouar has just signed a new deal and is worth around £40 million, said the article, so he wouldn’t come too cheap – but that fee is well within the Reds’ budget.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are all interested in the France U21 international, who has 24 goals and 24 assists in 133 games for Lyon.

2018/2019 was a breakthrough year for the 21-year-old, who hit the back of the net seven times and set up eight other goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances – while he also featured heavily for the side in their Champions League campaign.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas isn’t afraid to let the media know what he thinks, but on this occasion he appears to be fairly understanding of the player’s desire to move abroad and further his career.

"He said: “The player’s opinion is always essential. Keeping a player against their will is not reasonable.”"

However, you can be sure that Aulas will drive a hard bargain for their next cab off the rank. Liverpool have dealt with him before in the failed attempt to get Nabil Fekir to agree terms, a move which eventually broke down due to injury concerns.

That transfer ended badly for all parties as Lyon missed out on a big fee as Fekir moved to Real Betis for £17.78 million and ended his hopes of an Anfield transfer. But seven goals and six assists during his debut La Liga campaign could tempt the big clubs back.

Aulas ended by saying Aouar has not asked to leave yet, despite the interest from some of the finest clubs from around Europe.