If the world didn’t know about the tricky Frenchman, they know about him now.
Impact
Lyon continue to churn out talented forwards, and Houssem Aouar could follow Nabil Fekir and Alexandre Lacazette in becoming household names across the football landscape.
Their magical Champions League run highlighted the many strengths they have as a club, and it just continues to beggar belief that they could only finish seventh last season.
Key
With 16 goals and 16 assists in the French top flight, the 22-year-old has been introducing himself slowly to his home audience, but it’s on the biggest stage where he’s really shone and that is a mark of a player of promise.
In eight European games this season, he has scored once but assisted six times. It’s nine assists in 15 games overall. Rio Ferdinand [gave him rave reviews][1], despite Lyon losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Versatile
He’s versatile, too, and has played in midfield, on the left, as a defensive midfielder, as a no. 10 and even as a left winger on occasion - although it’s clear that he’s better suited to a central midfield role.
He’s already played 137 games for his boyhood club and convinced in the Champions League. Could now be the time for him to make the leap and move somewhere bigger?
There will be sharks circling the waters, and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has developed a reputation as a hard-nosed negotiator. If he can spot value for the creative playmaker, he’ll surely let him go and reinvest that back into the side.
Links
He’s been linked with a move for Manchester City, who won’t be able to assure him of first team football, and the star [described them][2] as ‘inappropriate’ anyway.
Whatever happens, this is a young man with an excellent career ahead of him. Hopefully he can stay injury free and flourish when he earns that eventual big move.[1]: https://metro.co.uk/2020/08/19/rio-ferdinand-rates-chelsea-arsenal-transfer-target-houssem-aouar-13151298/[2]: https://www.goal.com/en/news/lyons-aouar-describes-talks-of-manchester-city-transfer-as/1r9iguzykastq1u64xeb8i1ddu