Lyon are ready to do all they can this summer to keep their top striker, Alexandre Lacazette at the club.
The 24-year-old has attracted strong interest from some of Europe’s top sides, following another stellar campaign.
Lacazette scooped the Golden Boot award following his 27 goals in Ligue 1, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by manager Arsene Wenger.
But now the French outfit are prepared to offer the striker a package he cannot refuse in order to keep their star man.
Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has confirmed he is willing to offer an annual salary of at least £2.9million, making Lacazette one of the highest earners in France’s top division.
Alexandre wishes to be the No. 1 and receive the biggest salary at the ckub, which is absolutely understandable.
He will earn at least four million euros a year.
We have made him an offer that will see him become the best paid player at Lyon by far.
That means Lacazette would have very good reason to stay at the club, and at just 24 years old he has his best years ahead of him.
Competition for a top striker is tough enough as it is in this years transfer market, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and of course, Arsenal, still on the lookout for a huge signing.
And despite the persuasive deal that Aulas has put in front of his striker, that is a deal that any of the above clubs can offer with ease.
The Gunners have limited options to bring in for the forward position, with Karim Benzema being the only other realistic target.
Lacazette currently has a contract that runs until 2018, but in these times that means nothing, and it’ll be the level of football that will tempt the French international away.
The Ligue 1 Player of the Year recently stated that it wasn’t about money at all, and dampened Arsenal fans hopes after he suggested a stay at Lyon could be on the cards.
Talking to Le Progres, Lacazette was asked about whether a future move to money-bags country Qatar would interest him;
It’s too early to say if I’ll have opportunities abroad.
It’s always going to be a question of a sporting choice because financially I’m already earning enough in my life.
To make my entire career at Lyon doesn’t bother me as long as they continue to have the development and ambition to have a competitive team.
Even if we’re not certain to win the Champions League. That’s not a probem.
That may be disappointing news for Arsene Wenger, but we all know that things can change in this modern era of football.
Arsenal’s impressive run of 17 successive seasons in the Champions League is something that Lacazette will have in the back of his mind, and he will be sure to offer fellow natural teammate Olivier Giroud, some serious competition for the sole striker role.
The Gunners boss will now focus on the transfer market after winning the Barclays Asia Trophy on Saturday.
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