Arsenal are delaying contract talks with Alexandre Lacazette until the summer, with the Frenchman running down his existing deal.
According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal are not planning contract talks with Alexandre Lacazette until the summer. The French forward’s current deal expires after the current season, as Mikel Arteta plans the next phase of his squad rebuild.
In the previous summer window, Arsenal made some smart signings, bringing in six young players to boost the depth and quality of the squad. While most of them have settled down properly in Arteta’s system, the Spaniard is planning to recruit more fresh faces after the current season ends.
One priority for Arsenal would be signing a striker or two considering they will be light in the position after the season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already left the club, and there is the potential of losing two of their remaining senior forwards in Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, when their contracts expire in June 2022.
While Nketiah is considered a squad player at best, Lacazette has an important role in Arteta’s setup, even more so after Aubameyang’s departure. The striker is the stand-in skipper and has performed when leading the line.
Arsenal have been urged to tie Lacazette down to a new deal, but the club is taking things slow on that front. Arteta is yet to explicitly rule out a new contract for the Frenchman, but the signs point towards the forward leaving on a free transfer.
There is considerable interest in Lacazette in the event of the striker leaving on a Bosman move. And Arsenal are reportedly planning to hold talks with the striker over a new deal once the season is out of the way, just before his contract expires. The Frenchman can certainly entertain clubs outside of England to sign a pre-contract agreement at any point.
Former club Lyon are also interested in bringing Lacazette back, although they may find it difficult to afford his wages. They will nonetheless make an attempt, although the Frenchman will be difficult to acquire with other big clubs interested.
Alternatively, Lacazette could decide to wait on Arsenal’s potential new offer and then make his next move. With Arteta planning to overhaul his striker positions, the Frenchman’s chances of leaving the club remain high.
