Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has set a deadline of Friday for clubs interested in Houssem Aouar and Memphis Depay.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas says the club will treat Friday like the end of the transfer window. Clubs interested in Aouar and Depay have until then to wrap up any potential deals.
The Frenchman has been linked with a big-money move all summer, having emerged as a star for the Ligue 1 side.
Aouar scored nine goals in 41 games last season and his exploits earned him a place in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season.
Aulas admits Arsenal are interested in the midfielder but are yet to meet Lyon’s valuation of the player so far. Les Gones are hoping to get €60m (£55m/$70m) for the Frenchman.
Elsewhere, Depay is another Lyon star linked with an exit. The Dutchman has been widely liked with a move to Barcelona.
Ex-Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, now in charge at Barcelona, has made no secret of the club’s interest in the Dutchman.
Arsenal and Barcelona will only have until Friday to close any deal going by the latest comments from Aulas.
“We will tell the players that whatever will not be settled in terms of departures before Friday, there will be no more departures,” Aulas told Telefoot.
“So for us the [closing] date of the transfer window will be Friday. I think I will propose it tomorrow (Tuesday) to Rudi Garcia and Juninho, because it’s understandable.
“And all people of goodwill can see that there is something wrong [with the results of the team]. It can be because of that, but it can also be a lot of other things. In any case, from Friday, the players who have not left will not leave.”
It’s a race against time for Arsenal and Barcelona to try and complete the deals for Aouar and Depay respectively.
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