Arsenal's pursuit of Lyon's Lucas Paqueta has been dealt a major blow after he was left 'unconvinced' by a potential move to the club, report L'Equipe.
To make things even worse, It's added that Manchester City and north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are the most credible options for the player, who is reportedly valued at around £50m. City are believed to be the most advanced in talks so far, but any deal could depend on the future of Bernardo Silva.
The Gunners are said to have shown serious interest in the midfielder this summer, with reports in France and Brazil suggesting that technical director Edu had already told the player's representatives that an official offer would be made.
READ MORE: Lucas Paqueta to Arsenal transfer: Huge complication, Lyon's transfer stance, Edu admission
However, Edu poured cold water on those reports while on the recent pre-season tour of America. "I’m very respectful when I talk about Lucas," he told TNT Sports Brazil. "I’m a guy who likes him a lot, I’ve always liked him, since my time with Brazil’s national team. He’s had a great season, he was considered the best (overseas) player in the French league.
"But today, there really isn’t any kind of talk, there’s only my admiration for the player, because the squad today is, in the position he plays, I think we’re very well served in this regard."
If Edu hasn't made contact as he suggested, perhaps he will change his stance if other clubs are actively showing interest. Despite the addition of Fabio Vieira from FC Porto, Arsenal continue to be linked with central midfielders including Paqueta and Leicester City's Youri Tielemans, although any further additions appear to be dependent on outgoings.
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