Arsenal 'to offload duo this week for Houssem Aouar funds'

Arsenal are reportedly hopeful of completing deals to offload Lucas Torreira and Sead Kolasinac by the end of this week in order to help fund a move for Houssem Aouar.

Aouar is understood to have overtaken Thomas Partey as the Gunners' number one transfer target for the remainder of the window, which closes for international deals at 11pm on Monday.

However, Arsenal must trim their squad before they add to it, and the Evening Standard reports that they are hopeful of doing so by the end of this week.

Torreira is thought to be close to completing a loan switch to Atletico Madrid, despite Arsenal's preference to sell the Uruguayan on a permanent basis.

Kolasinac, meanwhile, is in advanced talks over a £9m move to Bayer Leverkusen, with those funds set to be used towards bringing Aouar to the Emirates Stadium.

The French midfielder is valued at around £50m by Lyon, although their president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that no-one will be leaving the club after Friday.

Arsenal are also open to the sales of a number of other players, including Matteo Guendouzi, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.