Arsenal scouts have watched Aurier, as well as Southampton's Calum Chambers, but are still hoping that Sagna will take up their offer of a £90,000-a-week three-year contract.
Sagna has been one of the best and most consistent right-backs in the Premier League since his arrival from Auxerre in 2007 and has the versatility to cover at centre-back.
The player was in tears after Saturday’s FA Cup final when he talked about Arsène Wenger but was unable to offer any guarantees about his future.
Sagna, though, is most likely to join City, a move that would leave Arsenal needing both a new right-back and further cover at centre-back.
"I want to try something else," said Aurier. "You can’t really say no to Arsenal." Aurier, 22, is in the Ivory Coast's provisional World Cup squad.
