Arsenal are eyeing Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar for the January market.
The Daily Express says Aouar is out of contract at the end of this season, and the Ligue 1 club know he could swan off in the summer on a free transfer.
Quoted as a £50m purchase two years ago, the Gunners were then unable to negotiate a deal for the French international.
Several Premier League clubs including Nottingham Forest and Fulham were linked with the 24-year-old in the summer, and were told he was available for as little as £12.6m with Lyon looking to cash in.
That figure is likely to be even less once the transfer window reopens.
