Liverpool target Alexandre Lacazette has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid, according to reports
According to Cadena Cope, Alexandre Lacazette has already agreed terms with Atletico Madrid who are “blindly confident” that the transfer ban that currently prohibits them from registering any new players until January 2018 will be lifted.
Cadena claim that Miguel Angel Gil – Atletico Madrid’s owner – met with Lacazette and his agent, David Benditelli and another unnamed agent at his residence, with whom Gil reached an agreement for Lacazette to join Atletico this summer.
They state that this is standard protocol for Atletico, who always first agree a deal in principle with the player before then going on to negotiate with the player’s club. Given the recent comments by both Lacazette as well as Jean-Michel Aulas, it is clear that Lyon will be open to negotiation with any interested club.
Cadena Cope claim that Lyon will not budge from their €40 million opening price for Lacazette and while this should not be too much of a problem for Atletico, they could well be priced out of a move should any of the other interested clubs outmatch their bid.
There is a lot of interest in Lacazette who has been in brilliant form for Lyon this season. Lacazette has picked up 29 goals and 4 assists in 35 appearances this season and has begun to look like he is definitely ready for a step up to one of the elite clubs.
Real Madrid have been constantly linked with a move for Lacazette and will have absolutely no issues beating any other clubs should the race for the Frenchman boil down to a bidding war between interested clubs.
Madrid are on the lookout for new players ahead of next season and with Karim Benzema’s future at the Bernabeu uncertain beyond this season, Lacazette has apparently made the list as one of their potential recruits this summer.
Liverpool are also rumoured to have entered the race to sign Lacazette as Jurgen Klopp looks to continue his revolution at Anfield. Liverpool will likely have the added pressures of the Champions League this season and will need to add quality players to their squad if they hope to keep the pace with the top teams in England.
Daniel Sturridge could also be on his way out of Liverpool at the end of the season and should the Englishman leave, a striker will definitely be a priority for Jurgen Klopp come the summer and it will be unsurprising if Liverpool look to Lacazette as an option.
Atletico could face some problems if either of these clubs come in with an offer but given that Lacazette has allegedly already agreed personal terms with Diego Simeone’s side, they might just have the edge when it comes to a transfer this summer.