Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder Adil Aouchiche celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Cup football match between Linas-Montlhery and Paris Saint-Germain on January 5, 2020 at the Stade Bobin in Bondoufle, south of Paris. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Aouchiche visited Saint-Etienne but not to finalise move

May 30, 2020

Adil Aouchiche did visit the Saint-Etienne training facilities on Friday, but not to finalise a move to the club, according to reports.

1 fc nuernberg v paris saint german pre season friendly 1 — NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Adil Aouchiche of Paris plays the ball during the pre-season friendly match on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Julien Maynard of French outlet Telefoot reports that Saint-Etienne did invite Adil Aouchiche to their training centre on Friday, as widely reported on Friday. However, a transfer isn’t as close as it seemed in those reports.

For a start, this isn’t the first club Aouchiche visited. Others have done it before, and Maynard reports that Stade Rennais, Lille, Leicester City and Arsenal are all still in the race for the player alongside Saint-Etienne.

The player held discussions with the Ligue 1 club, but they aren’t making an offer at the moment. He also hasn’t made a decision on his future just yet. He’s studying each option closely and could even sign a professional contract with current club PSG.

This is good news for Arsenal’s chances of signing him, if they really are interested. He’d reportedly cost a signing-on fee of €4m and €25,000-a-week.

Aouchiche scored nine goals in five matches at last year’s u17 European Championship. The versatile midfielder got his first senior goal in one of three senior appearances for PSG this season. He also added a goal and a couple of assists in his four UEFA Youth League appearances.