Arsenal: Atletico make Alexandre Lacazette transfer decision

The first port of call for Arsenal this summer is to sell; whether it be shipping out deadwood, flogging off those no longer deemed at the standard required or reluctantly accepting inviting offers for those who could aid the rebuild. Alexandre Lacazette slots in there somewhere.

Or does he? Surprisingly, all the talk of the Frenchman’s future has died down. During the season there were never-ending reports of a decision being made on his future: keeping him on for another year with an extension or cashing in while the opportunity remains.

Finishing the 2020/21 season as the club’s top scorer, opting against selling him last summer could be deemed justified. He carried the striker mantle well in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal-shy stead, even if he still lacks in multiple departments and goes through these barren patches.

Him staying meant Arsenal missed out on what would have been an enticing offer. Still a top quality forward, he was in a better contractual position and there was interest from outside the Premier League.

Atletico Madrid make Alexandre Lacazette transfer decision as Arsenal lose interested parties for French striker this summer

One of the clubs most heavily linked with him was Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone has been a long-time admirer of Lacazette, interest that has remained in tact ever since the club had agreed to sign him back in 2017 before they were hit with a transfer ban. Arsenal struck lucky in that regard and signed him, with talk of a move to the Spanish capital never fading.

Until now.

Whether one agrees that Lacazette should be sold this window or not, having buyers for him is important. However, reports from France and Foot Mercato claim that a decision has been made on Moussa Dembele, and that Los Rojiblancos will look to exercise the purchase option in the loan deal they secured from Lyon in January.

Dembele had a hugely underwhelming season in Spain, making only five La Liga outings and none from the start, as fitness, illness and the form of Luis Suarez limited his output. The purchase option of £30m seemed like money that wouldn’t be well spent.

There has been a change of heart, although Atletico will try to haggle that price down, partly due to Juventus seeking to extend Alvaro Morata’s loan in Turin.

Any outlay on Dembele brings a seemingly inevitable end to Lacazette interest with Suarez not to be usurped and the younger 24-year-old set to get his chance. He’s highly thought of at the club.

Interest remains in Lacazette across Europe from Roma and Sevilla, but nothing concrete has emerged since the season concluded which puts Arsenal in a tough position to sell and moves the 30-year-old closer to staying this summer. A new striker could be on the cards.

Lacazette should be sold, though. Having his most enticed party move away from the case is worrying for Arsenal if they are to accrue vital funding, as he could easily fetch £20m despite his age and contract situation.

Eddie Nketiah is set to leave and if Lacazette were to stay, it could result in Folarin Balogun being sent out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign. With both £50m+ strikers at the club, the need for ‘Flo’ to earn regular minutes, which he won’t earn in this case and especially without European football, becomes important.