Arsenal may never get a better chance to sign Houssem Aouar this summer.
The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium before the 2020/21 season got underway, but the Gunners were eventually priced out of a deal.
Reports claimed that Lyon were demanding £53million to part company with Aouar, but after splashing out £45m to sign Thomas Partey on deadline day, Arsenal didn't have the cash to sign the playmaker too.
However, in a potential boost for the north London outfit, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas' stance appears to have softened as L'Equipe claimed last month that a new asking price had been set.
The report states that an offer between £22m-£25m could be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 outfit's chief into selling the 23-year-old this summer.
Now, according to The Sun, the asking price is even lower with Lyon willing to accept as little as €20m - around £17m - if the transfer saga drags on throughout the summer.
That is less than half of what Aulas was previously demanding, meaning Arsenal technical director Edu could seal a transfer masterstroke by saving around £36m based on the asking price last summer to boost Mikel Arteta's first-team squad.
Although, it should be noted that the Gunners aren't the only side being linked with a move for Aouar.
And with Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur said to be interested in signing the Frenchman, the aforementioned report states Lyon are hoping a bidding war will ignite between the Premier League quartet.
Recently reports in France claimed that Arsenal were no longer interested in Aouar.
With that said, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed at the beginning of the year that the Gunners remain 'convinced' Aouar was still the right man to solve their creativity issues.
"[Houssem] Aouar has always been the first target for Arsenal," Romano said on the Feather on Football podcast. "They love him and they are convinced he would be perfect in their midfield.
"The problem is that Lyon are asking for €60million (£53.3m) they are having an amazing season, they want to be back in the Champions League, so at the moment with the president of Lyon it’s really hard to negotiate in January for this kind of player."
