Arsenal have been informed that no deal involving Matteo Guendouzi and Houssem Aouar will be considered by Lyon, with the Ligue 1 club’s sporting director ruling out a player-plus-cash agreement.
The Gunners are reported to have stepped up their interest in a highly-rated 22-year-old playmaker.
Aouar continues to see his stock rise in France and, with Lyon set to be without European football in 2020-21, is expected to secure a high-profile switch at some stage in the near future.