The Gunners will have to see off competition from their Premier League rivals and one of the Champions League finalists if they hope to complete a deal.
Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal have reportedly joined West Ham and Atletico Madrid in the race to sign Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette as Arsene Wenger considers alternatives for Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Foxes striker decided to reject the chance to move to the Emirates and instead opted to sign a new deal with the Premier League champions, the Mirror reports, but Wenger appears to have been well prepared for that possibility having already switched his attention to the Frenchman.
Arsenal had previously tried to sign Jamie Vardy
And it appears that Wenger is looking to make up for the time lost pursuing Vardy as the Mirror adds that he is set to begin talks with one of the 25-year-old’s representatives next week.
However, Lacazette will not come cheap as the Mirror claims that the Ligue 1 side have slapped a £45m price tag on him, and that fee could surely rise further if a bidding war ensues between the three clubs reportedly chasing his signature.
But if the Gunners win the race, his arrival would surely appease many of the supporters that have been left disgruntled following the lack of new signings made in recent years.
Lacazette has scored 48 league goals in the last two seasons – including 27 during the 2014-15 campaign when he finished as the division’s top scorer – and repeating that kind of form in England would make it very difficult for any team to deny Arsenal from finally ending their wait for the title.
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