Good day Gooners!
A striker… A striker!!!!! Are we not all l saying that out loud in our heads at the moment? It’s not secret that Arsene Wenger is working behind the scenes to get a top class striker on board.
As per The Telegraph as of this morning, Arsenal, according to reports in France, the Gunners have lodged an improved bid of €50m (£42m) for Alexandre Lacazette in the event their reported deal (which is in the works) for Gonzalo Higuain falls through.
What exactly do these reports in France claim? In a blog post for French website But Football Club, Denis Balbir has claimed that in spite Lyon making it clear that the Frenchman would stay at Lyon, Arsenal have put more money on the table.
Balbir has argued that Lyon have done a ‘smart’ thing by making such a statement. He argues that they intend to force clubs to make larger bids for the player. This indicates that Lyon wants to make sure they make as much money as possible from a possible deal for the young French star.
Balbir’s view suggests that Lacazette will be sold to the highest bidder. This means that Lyon expect other interested parties in the Premier League and in Europe to get into a bidding war with Arsenal, in the event, the Gunners do put in the cash.
However, as far as the Premier League is concerned, Manchester City have already bought Nolito, Chelsea have signed Michy Batshuayi, and Manchester United have landed Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer. This leaves Arsenal as the only club in the need to beef up their strike force.
Presuming that other premier league clubs will not bid for the player, Arsenal will have to lock horns with Lyon and come to an agreement sooner than later.
Many fans and experts have openly welcomed the idea of Lacazette joining Arsenal. The Frenchman who has a decent goal scoring record missed out participating in the Euros this year with the French national team. However, there is little doubt that he deserves to be a regular international.
Arsenal’s interest in . He has undoubtedly impressed Wenger who is in the market for a striker, (but a striker at what the Arsenal boss has constantly referred to) at the “right price”.
Whether this “right price” is what Wenger considers being the right or a selling club’s asking price, is still unknown. Arsene Wenger’s reluctance at buying players on the basis of his and/or Arsenal’s valuation instead of the selling club’s valuation is not unknown. This is not to say that Arsenal have not been right in rejecting to sign players at ridiculously high prices. Wenger has been smart with this at times, while it can be said that his reluctance sometimes translates into unwillingness.
Is Lacazette worth the money that Lyon are demanding for him? I highly doubt it. However, the ball is in their court, and by making a public statement saying Lacazette will stay, has only increased the Frenchman’s price in an already, excessively inflated market. Strategic and smart, Lyon! All we can do now is remain hopeful that Arsenal reaches an agreement.
