Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has backed former Lyon teammate Alexandre Lacazette to leave the French club when the time is right.
The prolific striker was the subject of a bid from Arsenal last summer and goal.com report that the Gunners are continuing to monitor the Frenchman.
Umtiti left Lyon for Spain last summer in a £22 million deal and speaking to French TV station Canal+ (translated by goal.com), the centre-back says he knows Lacazette has the desire and ambition to leave Lyon for bigger and better things.
“I have a lot of respect for Lyon, they’re one of the biggest French clubs, but there will come a time when he could leave to improve. He’ll have that desire, I know his character. He’s waiting for the right moment.”
Lacazette has scored 20 goals in 23 games already this season. He has now scored over 20 goals in France for the third successive season making him one of Europe’s most sought after marksman.
Now 25, the French international will soon reach the peak years of his career, but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is a tough negotiator and will certainly hold out for a sizeable transfer fee if he leaves in the summer.
