Arsenal are reportedly inviting bids for striker Alexandre Lacazette as the club target Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are prepared to sell Alexandre Lacazette in this window and invite interested clubs to bid. The Gunners seek £15 million for the French striker who has one year left on his current deal after the club decided against offering him new terms this summer.
Arsenal have plenty of forwards heading into the new season. Mikel Arteta still wants a new striker to bolster his striker options, and the club have identified Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham as the ideal player. The Blues are willing to sell him to their rivals for £40 million, and the striker reportedly remains keen on joining the Gunners.
However, Arsenal will have to shift some of their players before they could sign Abraham. Club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubayenag and youngster Folarin Balogun signed new deals, meaning Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are likely to make way.
While Nketiah is still young, he is likely to find a new club with ease, but Lacazette’s sale could become a problem. Arteta seems to have no issues keeping the Frenchman for another year before seeing him leave on a free transfer, owing to the striker’s contribution on and off the pitch.
However, the Gunners are hoping for clubs to bid for the striker and accept an offer of £15 million. With one year left on his current deal, Arsenal decided against offering new terms, and the decision could have stemmed from their disastrous mistake with Mesut Ozil in the past.
The other problem could be the Frenchman’s salary. Lacazette is already on a reported £175,000-a-week at Arsenal, and there are only a handful of clubs who could pay those wages to a new 30-year-old signing. However, the forward has a big reputation across Europe, and if the Premier League side are serious about selling him, then there could be suitors.
Arteta likes the idea of Abraham playing for his side in the coming season. While Chelsea have slapped a £40 million asking price on their top scorer, the Gunners have now wavered over those numbers. The Blues are hoping to make room in their squad by selling Abraham as they hope to sign a top-rated striker.
Chelsea are readying a huge offer for Erling Haaland, and the sale of Abraham would help them significantly with funds. Irrespective of the deal for the Norwegian, Thomas Tuchel has long considered Abraham unwanted in his side, and the striker’s lack of game time since the German’s arrival is proof.
Arsenal like Abraham’s profile and reportedly remain keen to acquire him. However, a deal will heavily depend on their ability to shift Lacazette out. In the current climate, it might be difficult to sell a player like Lacazette, and so far, there has been no interest in him whatsoever.
