Arsenal are among five European clubs that will battle it out for in-demand Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer.
The Gunners are making contingency plans should Alexis Sanchez depart the Emirates at the end of the season and have been heavily linked with a move for Lacazette.
It was reported last summer that Arsenal made a substantial bid for the 25-year-old Frenchman, but it was turned down by Lyon.
Along with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are all believed to be keen on the striker for different reasons.
With his existing deal set to expire in June 2019, Lacazette has turned down the opportunity to sign a new contract with the Ligue 1 side, increasing speculation that he may be on the move at the end of the season. It’s understood that the contract on the table had a £60million release clause which he considered was not a realistic figure.
Lacazette has been in fine form for Lyon this season, netting 22 goals in 23 Ligue 1 games, and boss Bruno Genesio has admitted that he will find it difficult to keep him this summer.
Genesio told Telefoot (via The Sun):
“We’ll see at the end of the season, it could be hard to keep him but we’ll see.”
If Arsenal are to land Lacazette, who has previously admitted that he will consider his future over the summer, then they will have to fight hard to get him as they face stern competition for the France international’s signature.
