Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has urged West Ham United to secure Alexandre Lacazette as the Frenchman runs down his Arsenal contract.

Alexandre Lacazette is a type of player who rarely has a bad game when playing. Such is his style, battling away with defenders and also very much clinical in front of goal. The Frenchman’s been a fairly regular presence during his four seasons at the club while also being Arsenal’s top scorer last term.

He is 30 years old now and in the last year of his deal at the club. Plus, there’s no indication of a new contract offer, as the Gunners might choose to sign a younger forward next summer. They did try to sell him on in this summer, demanding €15 million, but his salary proved a stumbling block for suitors.

Mikel Arteta has now chosen to keep him on the bench as an unused substitute in three consecutive Premier League games. Lacazette still has two goals to his name in the EFL Cup and had looked sharp in pre-season. The French striker looks certain to move on a free transfer next summer or in a cut-price deal in January.

West Ham are mooted as a possible destination for the striker, considering that they have no other option in the No. 9 role beyond Michail Antonio. The Hammers were looking for a goalscorer in the previous window but failed to find a suitable player.

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In an interview with Football Insider, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has urged West Ham to move for Lacazette at the next available opportunity. When asked if the Hammers should strike a deal for Lacazette, Whelan said, “Absolutely, yeah. Possibly even waiting and biding your time until the end of the season.

“Obviously, the decision is always down to the player when it gets to this stage of a contract. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be signing one at Arsenal. I think he’d fit right into them. He’s very much like Michail Antonio; he can lead the line, go through the middle, makes good runs.

“Very deadly inside the box if you give him the right service. He’s also one of these players who can go on a run and score four or five games on the bounce. He knows where the net is, no doubt about that. I think he’d be a great acquisition for many clubs—still only 30, plenty of football in him.

“It just hasn’t worked out right for him at Arsenal. There’s been a lot of chopping and changing with managers at Arsenal. There’s definitely more in that player, that’s for sure. We know he can do it at Premier League level.”

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