If Arsenal are serious about signing Houssem Aouar this summer, they better act fast.
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 £45million 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 in June that a new asking price had been set.
The report stated that an offer between £22million-£25million could be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 outfit's chief into selling the 23-year-old this summer.
But recently, according to The Sun, the asking price is even lower with Lyon willing to accept as little as €20million (£17million) 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 £36million based on the asking price last summer to boost Mikel Arteta 's first-team squad.
Although, it should be noted that the Gunners haven't been only side being linked with a move for Aouar.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested in signing the Frenchman, with the aforementioned report stating that Lyon are hoping a bidding war will ignite between the Premier League quartet.
Yet with no movement regarding Aouar, there's still a chance that Edu can get a potential bargain deal over the line as the transfer window will remain open for another three weeks.
Furthermore, the Gunners have been handed a boost as Lyon's new boss Peter Bosz has claimed that the 23-year-old "can leave" this month if a suitable bid is lodged.
"Aouar? He can leave, this is modern football," Bosz told French outlet butfootball.fr.
"Up until the last moment, he can leave."
