Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has told OL TV (translated by goal.com) that he will not stand in striker Alexandre Lacazette’s way if he wants to leave the club in the summer.
Lacazette revealed to French TV over the weekend that he wants a transfer to progress further in his career. Arsenal reportedly had a bid turned down by Lyon for the forward last summer, and Aulas latest comments could offer the Gunners more encouragement to make another offer at the end of the season. Aulas said:
“If one day there is an opportunity, of course, as we did with [Samuel Umtiti] and [Eric Abidal] in Barcelona or Karim [Benzema] in Madrid or further in time with [Ludovic Giuly] to Monaco, who left, why not? Alex has wanted to play in a great club and Lyon does not object. We are perfectly in line.”
Lacazette’s current buyout clause is reportedly €60million (£52m); a fee which Aulas is likely to demand that any potential bidder meets.
His goal scoring record certainly means Aulas will feel justified in his demands for the 25 year old. In all competitions so far this season, Lacazette has scored 21 times in 25 matches. He has only failed to score once in his last nine matches, failing to hit the back of the net last time out against Saint-Etienne.
