Arsenal, and other interested clubs around Europe looked to set to miss out on top target Alexandre Lacazette earlier this month after the French international admitted that he was keen on a move to Atletico Madrid.
“I want to wait until the end of the season to discuss things with my agent and make the right choice for my future,” said the Lyon forward. “You need to have some proposals on the table in order to make a choice, so I prefer to wait until the end of the season.
“Atletico Madrid are one of the clubs that have been linked in the press. They have a great coach, nice fans, a project and they obviously have Antoine Griezmann.”
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas even took it upon himself to reveal that Atletico Madrid had even reached an agreement with the player:
“Alex has a verbal agreement with a club, Atletico, but there is no certainty, since we have to wait for CAS to lift the ban on recruitment,” said Aulas.
But any potential deal to Atletico Madrid has been killed off, for the summer at least. Discrepancies regarding their recruitment of youth players led FIFA to hand Atletico a transfer ban and significant fine. The Spanish club appealed to the Court Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but while their fine has been reduced, the ban still remains. As a result, Atletico are banned from registering players until January 1, 2018.
As Kaveh Solhekol from Sky Sports News HQ, states Arsenal should be front of the queue and move heaven and earth to try and secure the services of Alexandre Lacazette.
Atletico Madrid’s ban has a lot implications on a number of deals also with United said to be cooling their interest on star man Antoine Griezmann which be could good news for Atletico and coach Diego Simeone. The bad news is, Atletico will not be able to secure Lacazette, even if they could, he won’t be able to play for the club until after January 1, 2018 in which he could be cup-tied for any European games if Atletico Madrid make it through to the Knockout stages next year.
According to Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Simeone is disappointed in the fact that he won’t be able to sign Alexandre Lacazette, the Argentinian coach had plans to bring the French forward to the club. He felt that his forwards let him down this season and had he had the opportunity to sign Lacazette, it would have meant more goals for Atletico and more of a cutting up-front without the over-reliance on Antoine Griezmann.
Nonetheless, Atletico’s loss could be Arsenal’s gain or even Manchester United who, according to the Daily Mirror are now interested in Lacazette as Mourinho has made signing a No.9 a major priority this summer rather than pursuing Griezmann.
Lacazette finished the season with 36 goals in 44 appearances.
It is indeed very surprising the French hotshot has not moved to a Champions League club already despite his goal scoring prowess that only a few players in Europe can match. Lacazette has encompassed rising from the academy ranks to becoming one of Europe’s most coveted goal scorers. He is one of only four players – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane – to have hit the 20 goal mark in one of Europe’s top five leagues to three successive seasons.
Lacazette has notched 126 times for Lyon in 274 games. When one considers he broke into the first team as a winger under former coach Claude Puel, its even more impressive 110 goals in 182 games since the switch to becoming the main man upfront, after the iconic Lisandro Lopez moved on. In those last three campaigns, the 25 year old has notched 88 goals in 128 (73 in 96 in Ligue 1 alone). Astonishing.
It is believed Arsene Wenger is a huge admirer of Lacazette and is eager to add to his squad with rivals Manchester City and United already making moves in the Transfer market. The confirmation of his two-year deal means that Wenger will have another opportunity to deliver a trophy that has eluded him for over 13 years.
However, the only stumbling block is the fact that Lacazette is desperate to play Champions League football next season, and Arsenal will not be able to provide him with those opportunities as the club will be plying their trade in the Europa League in the new season. What could be even more frustrating for Arsenal is that various reports are circulating around stating that United are set to offer £50million to secure Lacazette’s services. Liverpool are also interested in his services and can also offer Lacazette the prospect of Champions League football next season.
Lacazette has two years left on his current deal, but is desperate to go for pastures new this summer, and there is no better place to ply his trade than in the Premier League. With that said, Arsenal, Liverpool and United must all battle it out for the Frenchman’s signature this summer.
Whoever comes out triumphant in securing Lacazette’s services come the start of the season will have snapped one of Europe’s best goal scorers – a player capable of winning vital points on his own. A vital cog in a League title winning machine.
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