Alexandre Lacazette has reportedly asked Lyon to leave the club this summer in case Arsenal come up with an official bid, according to reports in Talk Sport.
The North London club have also been continuously linked with Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli and Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi, however, considering the price tags and availability it seems Lacazette is the most likely option.
The reports from L’Equipe state that the French striker is aware of the interest from Arsenal, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, and wants to be allowed to leave should either club firm up their interest with a suitable bid.
It further reports that the 25-year-old has also agreed to stay put for another season if either of the fore-mentioned clubs fails to come up with a credible bid.
Lacazette, who is thought to have a price tag of £42million(as per Metro), wants to avoid a protracted transfer saga and is keen to complete a move as soon as possible.
The French club are also desperate to keep hold of their prized asset, as the star signed a four-year extension this time last year. However, the player is hoping that his employers will reconsider their position only if Arsenal or PSG come forward this summer.
Alexandre Lacazette is a very good goal scorer who year after year has improved in noticeable ways, whether it be his general link-up play or his ability to hit the target from noticeable distances.
Lyon’s rise in recent seasons mainly owing to growing diversity in their attack has spurred his evolution as a striker from an inefficient shot-taker to a ruthless finisher.
There are definitely some questions relating to how well he fits in at Arsenal but Lyon have also recently evolved playing a style that somewhat resembles the way the Gunners play, which can be seen both visually and the in the growing centrality of their shot selection in the 18-yard box.
It’s entirely possible that he’ll spend another season at Lyon, with their financial crisis being a thing of the past. Whatever the future holds, and whichever team ends up with Alexandre Lacazette, they are looking at a 25-year-old striker landing in his peak who has shown a consistently high goal output over three years.
Arsenal missed out on Jamie Vardy, but can they afford to ignore their pressing need for striking reinforcements? With Lacazette keen to leave, he could well be the answer for the North London clubs striking woes.
