Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette for a reported fee of £50 million.
According to L’Equipe, the Gunners are ready to break their club-record fee for the French striker in a deal that could cost Arsene Wenger £50 million, with L’Equipe even going as far as to say that a deal could be completed as soon as next week.
A shock to the system
Lacazette was virtually set to sign for Atletico Madrid shortly after the end of the 2016/17 season, but after it was announced that Diego Simeone’s transfer ban was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lacazette’s move to the Spanish capital was called off, as was Antoine Griezmann’s highly reported move to Manchester United.
The news was not only a shock to the world of football, as it changed the storylines of the transfer window dramatically, but the news also put Arsenal back into the race for Lacazette after it looked like all hope was lost.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old striker for a number of years now, as Lacazette has gone on to be one of the deadliest strikers in the France.
Lacazette scored 28 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances this season, his highest tally in a single season for Lyon, and the French striker added a further six goals in the Europa League as Lyon made it to the semi-finals of the competition.
A busy summer for Lyon
Lyon have been linked with a plethora of strikers over the course of the summer, with Chelsea striker Bertrand Traoré set to sign for the French giants should Lacazette leave his boyhood club.
The club have already seen Corentin Tolisso depart the club for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.