Atletico Madrid remains interested in a move for Alexandre Lacazette and will sign him as a free agent next summer.
The Frenchman has entered the last year of his current contract at Arsenal and he looks set to leave the Emirates at the end of this season.
The Gunners are rebuilding their squad and spent much of their transfer budget on players under 24.
Lacazette is already 30 and the Gunners have another older striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
No club signed him in the last transfer window, but he would still not get a new Arsenal deal and the Gunners will look to cash in on him in the winter.
They might struggle to achieve that, but the Frenchman will certainly have a new club when his current deal expires.
Le10Sport reports Atletico Madrid has had a long-standing interest in his signature and they never stopped talking to his entourage.
They are now interested in finally getting their man, but not for a fee.
The report claims that the La Liga holders are preparing to add him to their squad as a free agent in the summer.
This development means they are likely to get him on a pre-contract deal when this year ends in anticipation of his arrival next season.
Rumours will persist and most will have no foundation.All I do know however, is that Lacazette should be our first choice centre forward.
Should have been sold off before the season started ,never been Arsenal quality and his stats show that .
Takes a good penalty
Struggling to see what else he brings to the side because he is not, never has been, and never will be what we require. Which is a CF that scores goals.
But I think you will find, that throughout his career, Auba has been far more effective and scored more goals from the left rather than when playing CF where his limitations are exposed .He does not hold up the ball, his first touch is poor and he cannot link with others including attacking midfielders.In all these respects and in terms of workrate, Lacca is a superior footballer who bring it’s out the best in others.I’m afraid Auba was always highly dependant on his pace, and now that this is on the wane, he has little to fall back on.As for stats,they are of limited use and will never replace what is clearly evident to the human eye ,
Ok that’s that sorted then – we play a centre forward who rarely scores.
I have an idea- how about employing a coach who can actually get a system of playing that brings the best out of a natural goal scorer such as Aubamayang? Or is that too obvious?
Phil, Liverpool currently have a centre forward who does not score much but makes huge contributions to his wingers, who are prolific.It really does not matter who scores as long as the team wins.The same applies to Man City who arguably no longer have a recognised centre forward .I rest my case.
Grandad you are correct of course. But both Liverpool and City have coaches that promote an attack based style of play. After more than one and half seasons under Arteta we are still waiting for ANY consistent style. How can any player be sure of their role when the manager himself fails to establish a pattern?
Laca is one of the best players at Arsenal in terms of hold up play and fighting hard to get the ball and retain it. His hold up play allows other attackers to close in and score. He is a very good penalty taker and hardly misses from the spot. A good leader on the pitch for the youngsters and a good communicator during matches. His work rate is phenomenal and so although the stats point otherwise his contribution to goal scoring and Arsenal winning games is not highlighted inthe stats, so no wonder so many top teams around Europe are after his signature. I for one,would hope Arsenal extends his contract.
A position change might help for laca
That’s how top clubs rate him. Linked with Juve, Barça… Think he’ll be extended.