Alexandre Lacazette has started negotiating a pre-contract agreement to re-join Olympique Lyon for free in the summer.
The Frenchman left the Ligue 1 side to move to the Emirates in 2017.
He is now in the final five months of his current deal with the Gunners and it doesn’t seem they would offer him a new one.
Lacazette has attracted the attention of the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus since he has been at Arsenal.
However, Football London claims he is already in talks with Lyon, suggesting he will return to his hometown club.
They have been struggling in recent seasons and could make good use of his experience to become better competitors in Ligue 1 from next season.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Lacazette will almost certainly not get a new Arsenal deal, even though his experience is probably still needed at the club.
The striker has failed to score as many goals as we would have liked and he is getting older.
His departure would mean a major overhaul of our attack, but shouldn’t we keep him for at least one more season?
That is an idea the club might consider, but if he insists on getting a long-term deal, it is not worth it then.
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I think 🤔 if we do get a player like Gnabry, we can let Lacazette go,
We need fast players now,
Gnarby/ Kingsley Colman.
We can then move Martinelli/Pepe to the CF role.
I thought he started leaving about two years ago.
Lacazette is a good player, vastly under rated, and his scoring (lower numbers) are more a result of doing what his manager is demanding by any fall off in ‘form’ which is meaningless, fitness, or ability. He is still very efficient in his scoring; which is a better indicator of quality of play than simple goal totals.
Lacazette does a number of things that other forwards cannot, like hold up the ball and bring other members of the team into the attack. Arsenal have no other player like him on the books. Neither Martinelli nor Pepe can play with their backs to goal.
That said, it is clear he is leaving, which means finding a player of his quality which will not be easy or cheap. Here are a dozen potential targets that fit the profile of young, quality players Arsenal have at least some chance of signing in the summer window (Exclusing the top players like Mbappe, Haaland, Kane, etc).
Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan (11 gals, 2 assists, 21 League Appearances) – He is 24 with an excellent season in 20/21 and another good one this year. He is playing for a top team. He is valued at $100 million (Transfermarkt) and would cost at least that, especially if Inter win the title. – Chance of signing for Arsenal (CSA) 2 in 10.
Victor Omishen – Napoli – (6 g, 2a, 14 LAs.) – He is 23 and had a similar year last year. This looks like his standard and it is not as good as the current day Lacazette. A risky signing at best. He plays in a top league for a team, challenging for titles. valued at $72 million and Napoli would want more for a player helping them maintain a title chase. He is not, however, a prolific scorer and Napoli might be tempted if they could bring in someone better. (CSA – 4 in 10).
Gabriel Jesus – Manchester City – (2g, 8a, 19 appearances) Jesus is 24, a proven PL performer and well-known to Arteta from his Man City days. Jesus is no longer playing centrally at City, and his scoring is down, though his assists are up. He is a quality ,all around footballer who is still young. He is valued at around $70 million. Man City are not, generally, a team Arsenal can afford to buy from, but Jesus might relish a chance to play centrally. Arsenal could offer him that, and his wages, reportedly around $125,000 per week, would need to go up to tempt him. (CSA – 5 in 10).
Richarlison – Everton (4g, 2a, 13 Appearances) Richarlison at 24 is the right age profile and offers PL experience, but his goal scoring these last two seasons is mediocre at best. He is valued at around $70 million and would likely cost at least that. Everton have rededicated themselves to investing in the club after pulling back under the Benitez, so they may resist selling. Richarlison has, however, under performed the last two seasons, so he might be available with the right offer. (CSA – 5 in 10)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Everton (3g, 0a, 6 appearances) Due to injury, Calvert-Lewin has not impressed much this seaosn, but last season’s tally of 16 goals and 3 assists was good and part of an upward trend for the England international. He is values at $60 million, but he is homegrown, and Everton will not want to sell, so he would cost significantly more than that. $85 million would be a fair guess, if Everton were willing to sell at all. (CSA – 2 in 10).
Jonathan David – Lille (12g, 0a, 22 appearances) David is young, with two seasons of French football under his belt, and a similar goal return both years. He is valued at $60 million and it is fair to say he would cost more with his contract expiring in 2025. Arsenal reportedly moved for him in January and could not get it done. Lille are, however, a selling club and the right offer in the summer will probably succeed. His wages would probably be on par with Lacazette’s, as he will be sought-after by other clubs looking to upgrade their attack. (CSA – 6 in 10).
Alexander Isaak – Real Sociedad (4 goals, 3 assists, 18 appearances) At 22 he is in the age profile Arsenal seem to want, though he is hardly prolific, scording at a similar rate to Lacazette in his worst ever year. (Last year he scored 17 league goals) He is young and may improve. He is under contract until 2026 and the club has made it clear they will not sell him at less than his release clause, which is reported to be about $100 million ($77 million sterling). Arsenal were not willing to do it in January while they still had Nketiah and Lacazette, but in the summer, with both gone, perhaps the Gunners will roll the dice. (CSA – 6 in 10).
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (5g, 1a, 18 appearances) This season’s scoring tally is hardly awe-inspiring, and at 26 Watkins is on the upper limit of the age of player Arsenal are hunting for. He is rated at $50 million and as an English player, Arsenal could expect to pay $60 million+ for him from Villa. He would be among the riskiest of signings, mostly due to his scoring levels and age, with less upside than other options. He would be cheaper than most other options, however. (CSA – 7.5 in 10)
Paulo Dybala – Juventus – (7g, 3a, 17 appearances) Dybala may be the odd man out after the signing of Dusan Vlahovic. There are 6 forwards at the club right now, with Moises Keane (on loan), Federica Chiesa, Alvaro Morata, Kaio Jorge also under contract. Dybala has been rumored to leave the Italian giants since the year he signed, but he always seems to stay. He is not a true center forward, playing very much as a second striker in a two-up-top formation, which is not how Arsenal play. (CSA 3.5 in 10).
Timo Werner – Chelsea (1g, 1a, 11 appearances) His returns are not great, but he’s played only 575 minutes of football as a part-time player for the Blues. He scored 6 an assisted 13 last season. He is not a core player at Chelsea though his wages are likely to be on the high side and he has a contract to 2025. It seems entirely likely that, depending on how Chelsea move forward with or without Lukaku, Werner could be available. (CSA – 5 in 10).
Patrick Schick – Bayer Leverkeusen – (18g, 3a, 17 appearances) By far the most accomplished of the options, scoring once every 74 minutes. Schik scores, provides assists, and works hard on and off the ball. At 26 he is on the older end of Arsenal’s profile, however he also plays for a smaller team and is valued at a relatively affordable $50 million, despite being under contract until 2025. It seems he would be sought after, but with a good offer Arsenal seem likely to take him. CSA 8 in 10)
Tammy Abraham – Roma (10g, 3a, 23 appearances) Abraham offers pace, power, PL experience, and a chip on his shoulder. He signed for Roma from Chelsea, pushed out in favor of Lukaku, who is doing less for a lot more. He is under contract until 2026, and is vaued at about $50 million. He would doubtless cost somewhere north of $65 million, but Roma are languishing in a very Arsenal-like 7th place in Serie A, well off the title pace set by Inter. Mourinho seems likely to be fired, which will trigger another rebuild. (CSA – 7 in 10).
Just looking forward to Laca playing his part in our push for top 4 this season myself