Chelsea are ready to rival Arsenal and Barcelona to sign highly rated Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, claims The Daily Mail.
The 20-year-old has been a standout performer for Lyon since breaking onto the scene last season and is now attracting attention from the biggest clubs in Europe.
Lyon have supplied elite players to a number of teams around the continent in recent years and Aouar looks set to become the latest to make a high profile move away from the French side.
Aouar’s current Lyon deal is not due to expire until 2023 after the France Under-21 international pledged his long-term future to his boyhood club in the summer.
Arsenal have reportedly earmarked the youngster as a potential replacement for Aaron Ramsey, who will leave the Gunners at the end of the season on a free transfer.
Chelsea’s interest in the Frenchman, meanwhile, could complicate matters for the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley at Stamford Bridge.
Both midfielders are battling for regular first team football at Chelsea and Aouar’s potential arrival would restrict their game time further.
Aouar is well on his way to surpass last season's goalscoring feats. He scored six goals in 32 league appearances last term and has already found the back of the net five times in Ligue 1 this season.
