Snubbed by Jamie Vardy after triggering his £20 million release clause, Arsene Wenger was forced to look elsewhere for striking reinforcements and opted to sign Japanese youngster Takuma Asano, but the 21-year-old is not expected to play a key role for the Gunners in the new season.
With this in mind, Wenger only has Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck to call upon. However, Giroud is unable to be relied on game in, game out. Walcott has struggled to compete with the French striker for the centre-forward position, whilst Welbeck endured a frustrating season with long-term injuries, and is still in the treatment room.
Undoubtedly, Wenger will need to sign a striker this summer, and the majority of the Arsenal faithful will agree with this statement.
Many strikers have and continue to be linked with a move to Arsenal, but the name being highlighted mostly is now Alexandre Lacazette.
Wenger is believed to be keen on signing the 25-year-old, but recent reports claim he is not prepared to pay the price Lyon are asking for.
It is understood Lacazette has a £34 million release clause and this appears to be the stumbling block for Wenger, despite rating the Frenchman.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas recently stated that Lacazette would not be put up for sale this summer. However, with interest building in the strike, Aulas may be hoping an auction ensues.
Price of players has always been a problem for frugal Wenger in the past. But in recent seasons we have seen him shell out the big bucks to snap up the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, so there’s still some hope of this transfer actually happening.
Watch this space.
