Manchester City are ready to firm up their interest in Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

City boss Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Aouar and sees him as a potential replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, reports RMC.

Aouar impressed Guardiola and assistant coach Mikel Arteta earlier this season during their Champions League group games.

Earlier this year, Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti said of his former OL teammate: "Aouar? He is a smart player, technical, who puts himself about well.

"He has a good quality of passes, a vision of the game.

"So it is normal that a coach like Guardiola is interested in this kind of player."