Arsenal transfer news: Lyon ace Rachid Ghezzal interesting Gunners with West Ham and Southampton also circling
ARSENAL could be set for another battle with Lyon - this time over Rachid Ghezzal.
The Gunners have already been had a £29million bid rejected for France forward Alexandre Lacazette this summer.
And now, according to reports in France, Arsene Wenger has sounded out Lyon over the availability of Ghezzal - who the Gunners boss views as back-up to his main targets.
Wenger's priority is a centre-back but Valencia have told him to forget his pursuit of Shkodran Mustafi.
Ghezzal is also on the radar of West Ham and Southampton.
But the 24-year-old yesterday rejected the chance to move to Everton - despite the clubs agreeing a £9.5m fee - because he is intent of playing European football.
The player's contract end at the end of the season but Los Gones have tabled an extension in the hope they can fend off Premier League offers and persuade him to commit his future at Stade de Lyon.
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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has not been afraid to speak of Prem offers for his players this summer and announced he had rejected a bid of around £7m from West Ham for Ghezzal earlier this month.
Aulas revealed: "He wants me to talk with his advisors and so I'm going to call them this week to try to break the deadlock.
"I like Rachid a lot. It would be really good if we might be able to reach an agreement. We have received offers for him, including the one from West Ham.
"I know that Rachid doesn't want to leave Lyon so we have to find an agreement so as not to remain in a situation that's not good for either of the two parties involved."
The Hammers are in the market for forwards after the double injury blow of losing Andy Carroll and Andrew Ayew.
Saints boss Claude Puel is also keen on Ghezzal having been impressed by the winger in his time bossing Ligue 1 outfit Nice.