Arsenal To Trigger Lacazette Release Clause
Premier League side Arsenal are ready to trigger the €40 million (£34.2 million) release clause of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette that would allow talks with the player, according to The Telegraph.
The 25-year old has rejected West Ham twice (who have activated his release clause) this summer. With Lyon making the Champions League, Lacazette is unsure about leaving his hometown club. With his ambitions to play in the Premier League, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will try his best to persuade him to join the London side.
Lyon have set €40 million as an allowance to open talks but may ask for more with Arsenal ready to splash the cash for the forward. With Jamie Vardy remaining at Leicester City, Wenger is looking for reinforcements in the forward department as he looks to strengthen his team.
Arsenal are first looking at other options first with interest in Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Lacezette on the other hand is a major target for Paris Saint-Germain (unlikely with Lacezette not willing to play for another Ligue 1 club) and an interest for Atletico Madrid (who are likely to sell Luciano Vietto to Porto).
Lacazette in 2014-15 was named French player of the year after an impressive record of 27 goals in 33 league appearances. He has also scored more than 20 goals in his past three consecutive seasons.