Arsenal are particularly keen on signing Lyon’s 20-year-old midfielder Houssem Aouar as a replacement for Aaron Ramsey, according to reports in France.

France Football report that Unai Emery is a big fan of the player’s versatility, his ability to recover the ball for his team but also make killer passes when necessary. As a result, he seemingly sees the Lyon man as the perfect option to come in for Ramsey, when the Welshman’s contract expires next summer.

However, despite claims that Arsenal are ‘particularly’ keen on the transfer, the club’s ability to qualify for the Champions League is set to play a major part in any potential deal. Plus, the Frenchman told RMC this week that he’d love to be managed by Pep Guardiola, with Manchester City another contender for his signature.

Houssem Aouar: "Honestly one day I would love to be managed by Pep Guardiola. We see football the same way." (RMC)

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 10, 2018

If Arsenal want to win the race for Aouar’s signature, France Football claim they would have to cough up €40m (£36m). GFFN write that the actual transfer fee would likely be even more than that.

Aouar has five goals and four assists in 21 matches this season, which is a very good total considering he’s only played a couple of those games as an attacking midfielder or a winger, with the rest spent deeper in midfield or on the left.

The France u21 international will likely start in Lyon’s final group stage game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, with a spot in the knockout stages up for grabs.