Arsenal and Manchester City dealt a blow in their pursuit of Lyon's Houssem Aouar with 'Juventus set to open talks with the highly-rated Frenchman over a summer transfer'

• Juventus are set to open talks with in-demand Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar
• It will be a blow for Arsenal and Manchester City, who were both keen on him
• The 22-year-old has also been watched by the likes of PSG and Real Madrid
• Memphis Depay recently said both he and Aouar wanted to leave Lyon soon 

Arsenal and Manchester City have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Lyon's Houssem Aouar following reports Juventus are poised to open talks with him.

The highly-rated French midfielder, 22, is wanted by several of Europe's leading clubs with the Premier League duo among those to be very interested. 

Paris Saint-Germain were also keen but talks between Lyon's president Jean-Michel Aulas and his counterpart Nasser Al-Khelaifi last year ended due to the delicate economic situation brought about by Covid-19.

According to transfers expert Gianluca Di Marzio, the Serie A champions are now keen to swoop in and make their move first, with the club set to begin negotiations over a summer transfer imminently.

Manchester City are keen to add to their midfield ranks in the summer and were hoping they could lure Aouar to the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola's former assistant manager, Mikel Arteta, was equally desperate to bring him to north London and sees him as the ideal midfield partner to summer signing Thomas Partey.

Earlier this month Memphis Depay claimed he and Lyon team-mate Aouar 'want to play for one of the top three clubs in the world'.

Depay told Canal+: 'We know we play for a very big club but we want to go to one of the top three clubs in the world.

He added: 'Then you will see Houssem, he will get 10 times better. For me, it's the same.'

Real Madrid were also said to be monitoring Aouar's progress with reports last year suggesting they were considering a player plus cash offer for the Frenchman.

Aouar has a contract with Lyon through until 2023 so it would require a sizeable bid to tempt Lyon into selling one of their prized assets this summer.

He has made 16 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon so far this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists as they sit third, just two points behind leaders PSG.