Lyon president says Alexandre Lacazette is not in London as Arsenal deal moves closer
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that star striker Alexandre Lacazette has not travelled to London as a move to Arsenal edges closer to completion.
Recent days have seen significant progress towards a deal that would make the 26-year-old Arsenal’s club record signing, with Lyon increasingly minded to compromise over their £57million asking price.
An agreement for Lacazette has not yet been reached but it appears increasingly likely that the French international will be an Arsenal player before the start of the new season.
However Aulas remains a tough negotiator who will look to maximise his return from Arsenal, from whom he is keen to take Lacazette’s international team-mate Olivier Giroud.
@OL @Le_Progres Fausses ls informations du Progrès:l'éventuel transfert d'Alex L celui ci n'est pas à Londres la1 ère offre était de 45 m€ !
— Jean-Michel AULAS (@JM_Aulas) July 2, 2017
The 68-year-old businessman posted on Twitter to confirm that Lyon had received an initial offer from Arsenal worth around £39million, adding that Lacazette had not yet travelled to London as talks continue between the two clubs.
Lacazette has been on holiday in the United States over recent days, meeting up with international team-mate Antoine Griezmann, who he has referred to as his “brother”.
The pair could have been united at Atletico Madrid, who seemed bound to secure Lacazette’s signature earlier in the window before the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a transfer ban on the Spanish club that means they will be unable to register any new signings until January.
ArticleLyon chief says Lacazette is not in London as Arsenal deal moves closeArsenalAlexandre LacazetteOlympique LyonnaisJean-Michel Aulastransfer newsPremier LeagueLondon footballArsenal transfer news: Alexandre Lacazette is not in London says Lyon president as Gunners deal moves closer