Arsenal have lodged a formal €50m bid for Alexandre Lacazette and are now favourites to lure him from the clutches of Lyon during the summer transfer window. The France international was on the Gunners’ radar last year but a deal failed to materialise.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had highlighted his intention to sign Lacazette prior to the start of last season, but the move could not go through with the FA Cup holders willing to pay only £29m for his signature.
Meanwhile, West Ham United had tabled an offer close to Les Gones’ £44m valuation, but the deal was not suitable for the player, who wanted Champions League football at the least.
French publication RMC Sport suggests that the north London giants have returned for Lacazette this summer, and they are this time willing to match the overall transfer value. The transfer is likely to be confirmed by both clubs next week, with one more meeting set to take place to finalise the switch.
Lacazette was initially leaning towards a transfer to Atletico Madrid last season with personal terms already agreed, but the move reached a standstill after Atleti failed to win their appeal for a transfer ban at the Court of Arbitration of Sport.
Since then, the 26-year-old has had a change of thought by suggesting that Champions League is not a necessity and this appears to have brought the Gunners back into the focus with Wenger having met Lyon representatives earlier in the month.
Lacazette has managed over 20 goals in each of his last four seasons at Lyon with his previous campaign being his best with 37 goals across all competitions.
He has also appeared for France at every youth level with consistency, but he just does not appear to get the nod with Didier Deschamps in the senior squad.
Lacazette was an unused substitute for Les Bleus earlier in the month when they clinched a 3-2 friendly victory over England despite being a man down for most of the second half.
