Exclusive | Houssem Aouar is absent from Lyon training attempting to achieve a move

« Back

23-year-old Lyon attacking midfielder Houssem Aouar is absent from Lyon pre-season training because he is attempting to achieve a move away from the club this summer, not because he is sick as OL have claimed officially, according to sources contacted by Get French Football News.

The player was expected to turn up to pre-season training on 1st July, which he did, appearing for a meeting with new manager Peter Bosz, but since then none of the 1st team squad players have seen the midfielder at the training ground for pre-season which has now been ongoing for the last 5 days.

Aouar, who is under contract until 2023, is understood to be disappointed that the club failed to retain the services of Memphis Depay, who has joined Barcelona on a free transfer.

Last summer, Aouar was seeking to make a move away from Lyon, but to a club offering regular Champions’ League football, hence his decision not to seek to force a move to Arsenal, who were the only side who submitted formal bids.

Juventus and PSG have long-term interest in the attacking midfielder.

This news follows claims from Le Progrès earlier this evening that Moussa Dembélé is seeking to force an exit from OL – the player moved to social media this evening to deny these claims.