Arsene Wenger will reportedly spend big this summer as the Gunners are willing to spend a massive €62 million to lure Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Arsene Wenger is set to make a renewed bid to sign the in-demand Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon by spending close to €62 million.
Wenger, who has often been criticized for his transfer market endeavours, seems determined to prove his critics wrong after signing a two-year extension with Arsenal in spite of growing chants of ‘Wenger Out’. The Frenchman has also been targeting the talented young Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco in a bid to strengthen their attack.
After struggling to finish fifth last season, Arsenal are looking to sign a superstar striker this summer and Alexandre Lacazette has been a long-time Gunners target. Luck has certainly favoured Arsenal since the 26-year-old forward had agreed to join Atletico Madrid, but that deal could not move forward due to the Spanish club’s transfer ban.
Lacazette is a product of Lyon’s academy and was close to an Arsenal move last season, but the bid was understood to have been rejected. Their eagerness to sign him is completely justified since he has cemented himself as one of the most dependable strikers across Europe.
The Frenchman bagged 36 goals in 44 games across competitions in 2016/17 and he enjoyed what’s being touted as his best season in a Lyon shirt last term. Also, since he is 26, this seems like the ideal time for him move out of the club in search of greener pastures.
In fact, Lacazette’s numbers have never dropped below 20 goals in the past four season for Lyon, which is exactly the kind of fire power the Gunners require in their attack.
Lacazette is lethal at all times and will bring his devastating finishing to the Premier League if the Gunners manage to seal a deal. The fact that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are both expected to leave can only mean that Lacazette will enjoy a bigger role playing for Arsenal.
However, Wenger might be in for a nasty shock since Lacazette is also a Manchester United target. The Red Devils are in desperate need of a quality striker since Zlatan Ibrahimovic was recently released after he sustained a long-term injury. At present, Jose Mourinho only has Marcus Rashford as his best option up front.
Alvaro Morata is believed to be Mourinho’s priority target to fill that void but the United boss is still keeping his options open in case he fails to sign the Real Madrid striker, and Lacazette is being seen as a back-up. United might have an upper hand in signing Lacazette since they can offer Champions League football unlike Arsenal.
Mourinho is expected to pursue Lacazette only if he fails to land Morata and hence Arsenal will still remain front-runners in signing the French striker. With a stiff competition ahead, it comes as no surprise that Wenger is willing to offer a higher amount to zoom past Mourinho.
