Houssem Aouar looks set to miss out on a dream switch to the Premier League - just two years after he saw a big-money move to Arsenal collapse.
Aouar is available for transfer this summer after running down his deal at Lyon, and the 24-year-old would prefer to join an English club. However, nobody from the top-flight appears to have Aouar on their radar, with Real Betis in pole position to land the Frenchman.
According to a new report from L’Équipe, the Spanish outfit have been pursuing Aouar for several months - and with the midfielder currently light on suitors, Betis' persistence could finally pay off. Aouar is open to moving to La Liga, but he is set to take his time with a decision over his future in the hope that Premier League interest could re-materialise.
There was reported interest from English clubs in Aouar earlier this summer; and there were even suggestions that the midfield man was available for a bargain €15million (£12.6m).
That sum is a far cry from the £55m that Lyon were demanding from suitors to acquire Aouar's services in the summer of 2020. Back then, Aouar's stock was at an all-time high - but interest in the Lyon star has significantly waned since.
Aouar revealed shortly after the saga that he was determined to take Lyon to the next level after coming through the youth ranks at the club. But staying put appears to have harmed his chances of gracing the Premier League.
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Speaking on his decision to stay put back in 2020, Aouar said: "First because I feel that I could still bring things to this team and the club, it's that simple. I wanted to continue the adventure with the club that raised me. We now have to raise our heads because we have to do better."
After being linked with Aouar again last summer, Arsenal have seemingly ended their long-running flirtation with the midfielder; and are now, ironically, courting his Lyon teammate, Lucas Paqueta.
The Brazilian maestro has emerged as a top summer transfer target for Mikel Arteta, who is desperate to add more firepower to a team that came agonisingly close to ending their multi-year exile from the Champions League last term.
And with Paqueta now seemingly primed for a big summer switch to the Premier League, Aouar could be forced to watch on with envy from the sidelines unless something drastic changes in the coming days.
