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)

Arsenal-linked Aouchiche now in Saint-Etienne talks

Jun 15, 2020

Adil Aouchiche is in talks with Saint-Etienne and strongly considering leaving Paris Saint-Germain, amid links to Arsenal.

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

Following recent links to Arsenal, Fabrizio Romano reports that Adil Aouchiche is in talks to join Saint-Etienne. He is considering a move away from Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent because he wants to play regularly and feel like part of a project.

Telefoot’s Julien Maynard adds that PSG director Leonardo is planning a meeting this week to discuss Aouchiche’s future. As things stand, the young midfielder is ‘about to leave’ his current club for free.

Widespread reports last month suggested Aouchiche already visited Saint-Etienne’s training ground, possibly to hold a medical. However, that wasn’t the only club he visited, and the transfer was far from completion.

At that stage, Arsenal were also reportedly still in the race. A move would reportedly cost a signing-on fee of €4m and €25,000-a-week. Still, you’d suspect the biggest barrier to the signing is more in terms of convincing him he’d play regularly in North London.

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.