Manchester City Locked In A Three-Way Battle For This French Midfielder: Right Choice For Pep? | OneFootball

According to a recent report by L’Equipe, Manchester City are locked in a three-way transfer battle for Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Houssem Aouar this summer. The same source has also revealed that the Mancunian outfit will face fierce competition from Arsenal and Juventus in pursuit of the French playmaker during this summer transfer period.

Aouar Excellent Run Of Form For Lyon This Season

The 22-year-old has enjoyed another majestic season at the Groupama Stadium after putting in a series of eye-catching performances at the centre of the Lyon midfield. He has managed to help his team reach the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals where they will now face off against Manchester City later this month.

Aouar has banged in nine goals and provided eight assists in 39 appearances for the French outfit this term across all fronts which sheds light on just how much he has matured as a footballer over the past 12 months. He did well to average 1.1 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 1.8 shots, 1.0 key passes and 2.6 dribbles per game in the Ligue 1. The Frenchman has even completed 85.7% of his attempted passes in league football which proves just how accurate he can be when distributing the ball from midfield (stats via whoscored).

The 22-year-old has played for France at various youth levels but is yet to make a senior appearance for his homeland. Maybe a summer switch to the Etihad Stadium could give him a chance to shine at the highest level and earn a place in Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps’ squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals.

What Will The Talented Playmaker Bring To The Table?

Aouar is a well-rounded, technically gifted midfielder who can make a few driving runs with the ball towards the opposition penalty area. He has a wide range of passes in his locker and is not afraid to unleash a shot from long range.

The French youngster usually packs a lot of power with his strikes and has proven himself to be a consistent performer at the heart of Rudi Garcia’s midfield. However, he has still not experienced football outside France so the jury is out whether he can make a smooth transition to the Premier League if Man City can bring him to the north-west of England this summer.

Will Aouar Be The Right Choice For Man City?

Aouar will not only add more goals and creativity to Pep Guardiola’s midfield but also enhance the overall depth of his squad. Plus, he could potentially form a dominant midfield partnership with Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri at the Etihad next season. At 22, the French midfield ace is only going to get better with each season which the League Cup champions could look to benefit from in the years to come. All in all, Aouar will be an ideal choice for Guardiola as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what he demands from his midfielders.