Arsenal and Manchester City have been handed a boost in their hopes of signing Lyon's Houssem Aouar this summer after the French club's sporting director Juninho admitted that the midfielder could leave the club.

The 22-year-old has been one of Lyon's star performers once again this season, scoring nine goals and creating eight more in a truncated French campaign due to coronavirus.

Aouar's form has attracted the attention of a number of top clubs around Europe, including Arsenal, Man City and Juventus, and Juninho has acknowledged that there will be interest in the midfielder.

"Houssem Aouar? When you have great players in the squad, it is quite logical that other bigger teams with greater economic power come to seek the players," he told RMC Sport.

"There is a risk of losing important players. If we lose important players, I have already spoken with the president, we will have the right to balance the workforce."

However, club president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that the player does not want to leave, adding: "Houssem has not said he wants to leave. We want to try to keep him even though the interest is considerable. There are no negotiations ongoing."

Lyon are thought to want a bid of at least £44m for the France Under-21 international.