After having a sizable offer for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar rejected, Nottingham Forest might lose out to East Midlands rivals Leicester in their pursuit of the player.
Both Tottenham and Arsenal have previously been heavily linked to the France attacking midfielder, but the former have since turned their attention to Leicester star Youri Tielemans.
As a result, there have been rumours that Forest and Leicester are both attempting to sign the highly regarded Aouar.
The 24-year-old is reportedly open to a switch, according to L’Equipe, following repeated Premier League links.
Given that the player only has one year left on his contract, Lyon is also anticipated to make a profit on the player. With a bumper opening, it appears that Steve Cooper’s team has already failed.
The star who earns £62,000 per week has played his entire career at Lyon. However, Forest was prepared to significantly increase that pay to secure their man.
The amount that City Ground offered was rejected, though the report does not specify how much.
For Leicester, who haven’t made a signing this summer, that appears to have opened the door.
The long-term future of James Maddison continues to worry the Foxes, as several Premier League rivals are interested in signing the England star.
To that end, they see Aouar as a comparable replacement for Maddison and believe that selling the latter would result in cash in the bank.
