Arsenal did not make a £40 million offer for Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette but the French club have confirmed that they have rejected a bid in the £30m region from the North London side.
Arsene Wenger is believed to be in the market for a new centre forward this summer, with the France international one of the names most commonly mentioned.
Lacazette is said to be in demand, with the Ligue 1 outfit holding out for a bumper pay day if they are to allow their prize asset to leave his boyhood club.
Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that Arsenal have lodged an offer for the superstar forward but that Lyon have rejected the approach.
“Olympique Lyonnais denies categorically having received a £40m offer from Arsenal for the transfer of Alexandre Lacazette as Le Progrès stated in its issue this morning,” The Express quote him as saying.
“The club regrets once again that the publication has not bothered to contact them before publishing the false information which creates confusion on the day we publish annual turnover of £183m, up 111% compared to 2014/2015.
“The reality is that the Arsenal made an offer of £30m which Olympique Lyonnais did not respond to for one reason only: OL wants to keep Alexandre Lacazette because he is irreplaceable and one of the major leaders of Bruno Genesio’s group.”
Doubts remain whether current incumbent Olivier Giroud can score the goals to fire Arsenal to major silverware, while an approach for Jamie Vardy was also turned down by the player earlier this summer.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will return with an improved offer for Lacazette or turn their attention to another target.
