Arsenal prepare for busy end to transfer window as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang backs move for Houssem Aouar

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has given his blessing for Arsenal to swoop for Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar as the club prepares for a busy end to the transfer window.

Arsenal are keen to strengthen their squad before the window shuts this time next week and a new midfielder is the priority.

They have been tracking both Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey and Aouar all summer and a move for the latter is now looking the most likely.

Arsenal failed last week with an opening offer for the 22-year-old, believed to be just over £30million, but Lyon are expecting them to return with a fresh approach and are understood to want closer to £50m.

Aouar is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe and Arsenal captain Aubameyang has backed the Gunners’ pursuit of him.

“Of course, of course, we are in favour of it,” he told French broadcast Canal+. “I’m not going to hide it – even if he’s a Lyon player.”

Lyon will fight hard to keep Aouar and their president, Jean-Michel Aulas, is renowned for being one of the toughest negotiators in football.

Arsenal have experience of that from when they signed Alexandre Lacazette in 2017, while Tottenham too can vouch for it following their pursuit of Tanguy Ndombele last summer.

Aulas is known for speaking out during transfer sagas and he broke his silence over Aouar last week on social media. He explained how Arsenal’s offer was “too far from his value” and added that Lyon are “counting on Aouar” to lead the club into the Champions League.

Arsenal’s pursuit, however, is helped by the fact their technical director Edu has a good relationship with his counterpart at Lyon, fellow Brazilian Juninho, and the pair are in contact over a deal.

Aouar, meanwhile, played 90 minutes for Lyon last night in their 1-1 draw at Lorient and told French broadcasters he will not let talk of a move distract him.

Arsenal’s other midfield target, Partey, played just 19 minutes off the bench for Atletico yesterday in their 6-1 win over Granada, but a move for him is complicated as the Gunners must pay his €50m (£45m) release clause in full.

Such a deal is difficult for Arsenal to do as they, like many clubs, have struggled to offload players this summer.

The coronavirus outbreak has hit sides’ finances and the market is very much suited to buyers and not sellers.

Arsenal will still look to offload players before the window shuts, with Lucas Torreira attracting strong interest from Atletico Madrid and clubs in Italy.

Shkodran Mustafi is another who could head to Italy, with Lazio keen on signing the German – who is into the final year of his contract at Arsenal.

Fellow defenders Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are two more who could depart, but the pair’s wages – believed to be in the region of £100,000 a week – could prove to be a stumbling block.

There is also the matter of Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil’s futures for Arsenal to try and resolve.

Neither player has played a minute of football for the club this season, with Ozil’s exile extending all the way back to March.

The German has been attracting interest from clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and has just under a year to run on his £350,000 a week contract.

Ozil has insisted both publicly and privately he intends to stay at Arsenal and see out his contract.

Guendouzi, who has under two years to run on his present deal, has been linked with a move to Spain or back to France, but there have been no concrete offers so far.

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