Arsenal MUST Keep Alexandre Lacazette Options Open

Arsenal’s pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette has been rebuffed by his current club, Lyon. Should Arsenal leave all their eggs in this French forward’s basket?

Since before the start of this summer’s transfer window, Olympique Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette has been linked with a move away from the south of France.

Related Story: Mauro Icardi To Arsenal Has Become A Circus

Here’s what we already know:

Arsenal, West Ham and Spurs have been in for the forward over the past few weeks, but bids of around the 30 million pound range have been rejected by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

Recent interest from Napoli has been the only competition Arsenal have faced for Lacazette since offers for the Frenchman were rejected days ago.”]

Napoli have also made an offer for Lacazette, rumored to be in the range of 35-40 million Euros, but it was also rejected.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Alexandre Lacazette told The Telegraph earlier this year that he wanted a move away from Lyon, and that a move to the Premier League was tempting, but there have been serious efforts made by both Lyon fans and Lyon manager Bruno Genesio to keep Lacazette at the club.

Lyon have set his asking price at 50 million Euros, and they have rejected – and plan to reject future – bids of anything less for their star player.

What has just come out is that Lyon have offered Lacazette a new contract in an effort to keep his services.

This transfer saga has played out similarly to Jamie Vardy’s rumored move to Arsenal, which was made possible by Arsenal triggering his release clause and then thwarted by Leicester offering him a new deal.

Vardy had vested interest in staying with the Premier League champions  – so not 100% comparable – but Lyon’s asking price, which seems to be the lynchpin in this deal, has not yet been met.

Arsenal were also reportedly on the lookout for Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder as a backup signing should the Lacazette deal not go through.

However, thanks to Kevin Gameiro’s move from Sevilla FC to Barcelona, the Sevillistas have brought in Ben Yedder for just over nine million pounds.

Nine million pounds? For a man who scored 17 goals for a team that finished 17th in Ligue 1, that’s a great deal.

So now Wissam Ben Yedder is unavailable – so who have Arsenal showed an interest in that’s still available?

Luciano Vietto, an Argentine forward from Atletico Madrid that Arsenal were linked with, has joined Sevilla on loan as well.

Valencia’s Paco Alcacer is arguably the best under-25 forward that HASN’T been priced out of a move or moved already this year, but the Spaniard had a mediocre season with Valencia and only scored 13 goals in 34 appearances in La Liga.

Aside from him, there’s FC Porto’s Vincent Aboubakar, who Leicester were looking at in January 2016. There’s also Ajax’s Arkadiusz Milik, courted by Napoli as of July 28, and 28-year-old Islam Slimani, who had a prolific season scoring 27 goals in 33 games for Sporting Lisbon.

Aside from these three aforementioned players, it’s difficult to see who Arsenal could bring in for under 50 million Euros that is realistic – and the Gunners need a real striker that can score crucial goals for them this season?

Next: Krystian Bielik Is Far From The Answer At Center Back

This week looks like now-or-never business time for the North London side if they want to get their man – but be prepared for disappointment, Arsenal fans.