Olympique Lyon manager Hubert Fournier expects highly rated striker Alexandre Lacazette to stay with the club, amidst interest from some of Europe’s biggest club’s.
Lyon are set to participate in the Emirates Cup against Arsenal FC tomorrow, with the Gunners said to be one of the prime suitors of the French striker. Lacazette was Ligue 1 top scorer last season, and has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs over the summer.
He has said he wants to stay with us – Fournier on Lacazette’ future
Speaking in a press conference, ahead of tomorrow’s match against the Gunners, the manager reiterated that the versatile striker was an important part of the club’s plans, who plan to improve on the runners-up finish they secured last season in the league.
When Fournier was quizzed, where Lacazette will be plying his trade next season, the 47-year-old said:
a Olympique Lyonnais. I havena t got much to say. He has said he wants to stay with us.
a Of course, some clubs are going to be attracted to the sort of player he is but he is under contract at Lyon and with all of the different competitions we have this season with the Champions League and the domestic French cups, we obviously want to keep him at the club.a
By virtue of a second-place finish, Lyon are set to play double celebrating Paris Saint Germain next weekend in th eTrophee des Champions, with the manager labeling the Emirates Cup as the ideal preparation for the showdown against PSG.
a It is another exciting test for us,a he said of his sidea s participation in the friendly tournament.
a It is going to allow us to give additional playing time to the entire squad. We are going to have 90 minutes in our legs before the Troph e des Champions final against Paris Saint-Germain.
a We think it is an important trophy, myself, the staff and the players a ita s a competition we will take seriously, that is why we are preparing seriously for it.
a These matches will allow us to get up and running so we can be at our best in that competition.a
Fournier was full of praise for his opposite number, going as far as saying, that the 65-year-old was the best.
a For me, he is the best,a he added
a I think Arsenala s main strength is their team play. They are led by some real top players from the international stage; the main concern is Arsenala s team play.a
Les Gones will play La Liga outfit Villareal on Sunday, while Arsenal FC would play Bundesliga runners-up Wolfsburg in the second part of the tournament. The Gunners haven’t won the tournament since 2010, the last time that Olympique Lyon were part of the tournament.
Who will the Gunners end up with in their pursuit of the elusive World Class striker?
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Pundits and fans alike believe that Arsenal FC are a World Class striker short of a genuine title challenge after years, following the recent acquisition of Petr Cech from Chelsea FC. However, the search for that elusive striker, who will push the Gunners into the next level, continues to go on and on.
Earlier, it was supposed to be Higuain, then he faltered in the Copa America, then they were linked with Karim Benzema, whose agent claims, that he’s 1000% percent staying at Santiago Bernabeu, and now there;s Lacazette, who according to his manager is staying with Lyon. Where does it leave the North London club, with targets reducing faster than the number of days left to the end of the transfer window, or will the club be left with Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck as their main strikers?