Arsenal have been put on red alert to the availability of Alexandre Lacazette after the striker told Lyon he wants to leave in this summer’s transfer window.
It’s the latest in a string of updates regarding the Gunners search for a striker, with Lacazette and Gonzalo Higuain their top two targets now that Mauro Icardi has been ruled out.
After the news broke in leading French newspaper L’Equipe, The Independent are one of many to pick up the story that states the 24-year-old asked for a transfer away from the Ligue 1 club weeks ago.
After hearing there was yet again interest from both the Gunners and PSG, who are looking to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the striker soon let Lyon know of his intentions.
However, unlike the ongoing saga last season that quite frankly put his pre-season preparations in jeopardy, Lacazette wants a quick solution to a move away from the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
I can understand why the French international doesn’t want to upset the club, after all he’s been a player that has come through the youth ranks since joining in 2003.
To put that into perspective, imagine Steven Gerrard contemplating a move away from Liverpool just before he enters his peak, it’s a lot to ask of a player at this age.
The challenges the Premier League holds is something new to Lacazette, who’s been comfortable playing as one of Lyon’s star men for the past few seasons.
But ultimately it looks as if he’s thinking about the potential of moving on to a massive club whilst they are all interested, and the Gunners are likely to be his first choice.
Moving over to Lyon’s rivals PSG would be an ultimate insult to the fans, so starting a new life in England with the chance to be Arsenal’s leading light is something that’ll be hard to turn down.
If a move is to be pushed through then it could spark a quick transfer, and when things get rushed the price often drops, so we could get Lacazette on the cheap too.
He’s currently got a release clause slapped on him believed to be in the region of £45m, and in today’s market that’s not a ridiculous price for a player 25 years old with bags of potential.
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