Lyon sporting director Juninho Pernambucano has hinted that Arsenal target Houssem Aouar is likely to be sold this summer amid links to the Premier League.
The Gunners are said to be battling Man City for the midfielder, who has caught the eye in Ligue 1 for Lyon this season.
The French club are said to be asking for a fee of around £54 million for the 22-year-old as interest grows around Europe.
Although, if Penambucano’s comments are anything to go by, then they may be forced to accept a lower fee due to the financial implications brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“In the absence of arrivals, I rather think that there will be departures,” he told RMC (via Le10 Sport ).
"Houssem Aouar? When you have great players in the squad, it is quite logical that other bigger teams and with greater economic power come to seek the players. There is a risk of losing important players,” he added.
"If we lose important players, I have already spoken with the president, we will have the right to balance the workforce."
The midfielder has played 39 times in all competitions for the French side so far this season, scoring nine goals and assisting a further eight.
He played the full 90 minutes of the club’s round-of-16 Champions League victory against Juventus last week, providing the assist for the all-important away goal as Lyon knocked the Italian Champions out of the competition.
