Aston Villa are believed to be 'working' on a last-gasp deal to sign exciting Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Aouar a huge talent

The 24-year-old has arguably been considered one of the most gifted French players for some time now, having racked up 224 appearances for Lyon since breaking into their first-team as a teenager.

Aouar is out of contract at his current club at end of this season however, at which point he would be able to seal a free transfer to another club.

It could be that Lyon are willing to the sell Frenchman before January comes to an end in order not to lose one of their top assets for nothing, which is where Villa come into play.

The Latest: Villa linked with late move

According to Football Insider, the Villans are looking at sealing a late move for Aouar before deadline day ends on Tuesday night.

It is stated that Unai Emery is still 'in the market' for a central midfielder this month and NSWE have now 'turned their attention' to the Lyon star, with negotiations ongoing over a short-term deal.

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The Verdict: What a signing

Aouar could be a superb signing for Villa if they manage to get a deal over the line, bringing in genuine star quality and bags of experience, despite still only being 24.

The one-cap France international has been hailed as an 'incredible' footballer by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, which says a lot about his ability, and his attacking metrics for a midfielder are off the scale, sitting in the 75th percentile or higher in every single piece of FBRef's goalscoring and playmaking data.

Aouar's creativity is outlined by a tally of 35 assists for Lyon and he could bring a sprinkling of unpredictability alongside the industriousness of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara.