Houssem Aouar is a priority departure for Lyon, but they’re yet to receive any concrete offers for the Arsenal-linked midfielder.

L’Equipe (via GFFN) report that Lyon’s current financial deficit stretches to an estimated €185m, particularly after they failed to qualify for the Champions League. As a result, high-wage earners including Houssem Aouar are priority departures this summer.

Lyon are looking to reduce the size of their squad, but Aouar is yet to draw out a concrete offer from anyone.

ESPN reported last week that Arsenal were leading the race for Aouar ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Liverpool. This report was only further emphasised when Spurs journalists denied they were seriously in for the player.

The Athletic recently claimed Aouar was a serious prospect last summer, but interest has subsequently cooled. Some at Arsenal still believe he represents an affordable option, but the interest is no longer unanimous internally.

ESPN wrote that an offer of €25m could be enough to complete the signing, but with so little competition, Arsenal may feel they can afford to run down the clock a bit and submit an even lower bid. That’s if they decide to pursue a deal at all.