Arsenal told Alexandre Lacazette will cost them £60m
Jason Burt, chief football correspondent
12 JUNE 2017 • 10:37PM
Arsenal have been quoted a fee of ?55 million (£48.7 million) plus ?12 million (£10.6 million) in add-ons to sign Alexandre Lacazette this summer.
Fresh talks have already taken place between Arsenal and Lacazette’s current club, Lyon, over the future of the 26-year-old striker who is poised to start for France in Tuesday night’s friendly against England in Paris. The forward is, therefore, emerging as a firm target for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who tried to sign him last year.
Against England Lacazette will play alongside Kylian Mbappé, who has also been the subject of interest from Arsenal. The Premier League club have already indicated to Monaco that they are prepared to pay ?100 million (£88.5 million) for the 18-year-old, which has been rejected.
However, Arsenal have not yet given up hope of signing Mbappé despite strong opposition from other clubs led by Real Madrid who have offered even more – ?120 million (£106.2 million) – although the deal is structured differently from Arsenal’s with less cash up front. Wenger, who held talks with Mbappé’s family last year, has also tried to convince the player that he will have more first-team chances at Arsenal.
Even so, Monaco expect to keep Mbappé for at least one more season – if they can get him to agree a new contract – and will resist all offers for another player Arsenal are interested in, midfielder Thomas Lemar, because they will not let both him and Tiemoué Bakayoko go in the same summer.
Lyon have accepted that it may be the summer for Lacazette, who has spent his whole career with them so far, finally to leave the club. A deal was in place for the striker to join Atlético Madrid but that collapsed when their Fifa transfer ban was upheld by the Court of Arbitration in Sport. Lacazette was keen on the move and is understood to be devastated that it fell through.
There is some caution from those close to Lacazette about Arsenal’s interest given they held talks last year and were unable to agree a deal despite initial suggestions that they would meet Lyon’s asking price. Wenger met Lacazette’s representatives in Lyon, after France’s Euro 2016 last-16 fixture against the Republic of Ireland, and two bids were made although they fell short of what president Jean-Michel Aulas was asking for.
West Ham United also failed in a series of offers last summer before Arsenal made their approach, with Lacazette eventually making it clear he did not want to join them.
The player turned down a more lucrative contract from Lyon last year, where he is the highest-paid player, to ensure he was available to leave at a more reasonable price now. Lyon regard the figures quoted to Arsenal as a starting point.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/12/arsenal-told-alexandre-lacazette-will-cost-60m/
