French forward Alexandre Lacazette has reportedly told the hierarchy at Lyon that he wants to leave the club amid interest from Arsenal and PSG this summer.
Arsenal have been in search of a world class forward this transfer window and have been linked with moves for a handful already. The Londoners have reportedly been left behind by Juventus in the race to sign Gonzalo Higuain. They were also linked with a move for Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi and were rumoured to be in talks with AC Milan for their Colombian striker Carlos Bacca.
Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata is reportedly another of Arsene Wenger’s targets, but Los Blancos have decided to retain their academy product. With the Gunners reportedly ready to meet Alexandre Lacazette’s s £34 million release clause, the Frenchman could be their most viable striking option.
French Football, citing a L’Equipe report, stated that the Gunners have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Lacazette with the striker reportedly telling Lyon’s hierarchy that he wants to leave the club. The report states that Arsenal and PSG are the two most likely suitors for the Frenchman. The interested clubs would have to pay somewhere in the region of €50m for the 25-year old.
Lacazette has set the Ligue 1 ablaze in the last two seasons and has established himself as one of the most prolific young forwards in Europe. The striker has had back-to-back seasons with 20-plus goals to his name and was the highest goalscorer in the league for the 2014-15 season with 27 goals. He fell behind in the second season with 21 goals to his name but was still the second highest goalscorer in the league behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 25-year old is deadly from long range and is a clinical finisher. He also has the ability to hold on to the ball and skip past opponents with his dribbling skills. Lacazette’s passing ability is also impressive — a trait which would please Arsene Wenger in particular. The striker’s abilities are the perfect mix of Danny Welbeck’s pace and dribbling along with Olivier Giroud’s ability to hold on to the ball and link up with his teammates.
All in all, Arsene Wenger may just have found the complete forward he was looking for in Lacazette and with the striker reportedly wanting a move away from Lyon, the Frenchman could finally address Arsenal’s striking woes.
