ARSENAL are ready to power up their pursuit of Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar.

The 23-year-old was top of the Gunners’ wishlist last year but their £32million offer was quickly rejected by the Ligue 1 side.

Rumours have resurfaced again this summer, but the player has hit back at reports claiming that he skipped pre-season training in order to force through a move.

“Once again, unfortunately, fake news was published across social media,” Aouar said.

“I don’t usually answer what’s been said about me… I was sick and hospitalised over the weekend. I am doing much
better now and I am ready for what comes next.”

It’s believed that Arsenal will need to sell at least one more midfielder and bring their wage bill down before they officially submit another offer for Aouar, thought to be in the region of £20m.

The Gunners have already offloaded Matteo Guendouzi, who joined Marseille this week in an initial loan move which is expected to become permanent next summer, while Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson are also all said to be in the shop window.

Arsenal’s squad rebuild is, however, well underway with deals for Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares and Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga both finally expected to be announced. Both players reportedly still need to complete their medicals.

Meanwhile, across north London, Spurs fans are getting giddy at the prospect of holding on to Harry Kane after one of the striker’s main suitors revealed they are being priced out of a move.

Manchester City have already made an opening bid of £100m for Kane this summer as they look to find a replacement for Sergio Aguero.

It was an offer that Tottenham were said to have quickly dismissed as they value Kane at upwards of £120m, and are hopeful they can still convince the England captain to stay.

And such hopes received a timely boost on Wednesday when City boss Pep Guardiola played the strapped-for-cash card.

“At the prices [quoted] we are not going to buy any strikers. It is impossible, we cannot afford it,” Guardiola told Catalan network TV3.

“All clubs are struggling financially, we are not an exception.”

Kane, who fired England into the Euro 2020 final on Wednesday with the winner against Denmark, has expressed his desire to leave Spurs this summer. But there was another glimmer of hope that he might change his mind on Monday when he described new Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo as a “great manager”, adding that he will see what happens after Sunday’s final.