Lucas Paqueta is reportedly ‘open’ to the prospect of joining Arsenal this summer, as technical director Edu pushes to secure the Lyon star.
The Gunners are still on the lookout for another midfielder this summer having already added Fabio Vieira from Porto.
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Paqueta, who’s also a target of Newcastle, was one of Lyon’s top stars last season, with nine goals and six assists as he was voted the best foreign player in the French top flight.
A report on Tuesday claimed Edu ‘has already informed the player’s staff that it wants to formalise a proposal in the current European transfer window’.
And it was further claimed that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ‘personally approved the move for Paqueta and the Gunners’ hierarchy are now discussing the financial aspect of the deal’.
One report claims Lyon want €80m (£68m) for Paqueta, while another puts their asking price at €50million (£42m), but either way, Arsenal are ‘yet to send a formal offer’ to the Ligue 1 giants.
But such an offer could be forthcoming, with Media Foot (via Mirror) now claiming Paqueta is ‘open’ to leaving Lyon for Arsenal.
The report states that ‘while he is not acting out to force an exit this summer, he does want to leave as he is excited by the opportunity to join a new project’.
Arsenal are said to be leading the race for the playmaker, who has scored seven goals in 33 caps for Brazil, but Lyon are in a strong position to negotiate with Paqueta contracted for another three seasons having signed in September 2020 from Milan for €20m.
The French club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas recently admitted that there had been “proposals” for Paqueta.
“There are proposals for him,” Aulas told reporters.
“There are certain players who can feel complete in the project, and others who don’t. Economically, we have the means to pursue our ideas and objectives.”
When asked about the Brazilian midfielder’s future, Aulas said: “The coach gave us his opinion and there is also what the players wants to do.”
Lyon boss Peter Bosz has previously stated: “I want to keep all the good players, but you also have to be realistic.
“Lucas is a very important player, but it depends on what the player wants. I already had a conversation with him, but that will be between us.”
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