Arsene Wenger failed in his desperate search of a top class striker in the summer transfer window recently and had to settle for La Liga star Lucas Perez to add to his squad.
The Spaniard has not been able to break into the first team at the Emirates yet and this has left Wenger with the need of yet another striker who can keep a place in the starting XI.
There were a number of star strikers in Europe including Jamie Vardy and Mauro Icardi, that rejected Arsenal but one player who may still move to the Emirates in years to come is Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette.
With 9 goal from 9 League 1 games this season, the French star has been in sublime form early this campaign and is yet again linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal and West Ham reportedly yet against interested in him.
The 25-year old was clear that he wanted to leave Lyon at the end of the previous season and had a chance to join West Ham. But Lacazette was ready to wait for bigger teams and Arsenal came calling.
It looked like Arsenal would get their man, with Lacazette also wanting the move, but Lyon were smart and were not ready to sell the player unless Wenger meets their valuation. The Arsenal manager failed to convince himself to spend big and was left with Lucas Perez come the end of the transfer window.
Though the broken deal effected the player, he has not shown it in his game and is one of the most prolific goal scorers in Europe this season.
The 25-year old has recently revealed that he is now happy to sign a contract extension with Lyon but insisted that the contract include a fair release clause that can allow him to move to a bigger team. Lacazette’s contract with Lyon runs till 2019 and it is now understood that the French outfit are ready to offer him a contract extension.
Reports suggest that he will be given a £100,000-a-week extension which will include a release clause of £62.3m.
According to French news outfit L’Equipe, Lacazette is set to sign the new contract in the coming days giving Arsenal an exact picture of how much they have to spend to land their man in the next transfer window.
It is hard to see Arsenal meeting his valuation but if the 25-year old can keep up his good start to the League and score 30+ goals yet again, it might be time for Wenger to think about getting his cheque book out next summer.
Do you think West Ham or Arsenal will meet Lacazette’s ridiculous release clause?