Arsenal facing surprise January Lacazette transfer interest

Arsenal Can Sell Lacazette to Newcastle in January – Just About

Intriguingly, January is the stage of the season where Lacazette will have most use for Mikel Arteta: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is off to AFCON and so is fellow forward Nicolas Pepe. Options in that department are reduced.

Folarin Balogun remains and while a loan is needed for him it appears as if another season of Under-23 football is the club’s preferred course of development. Nketiah may also be of use, yet he too may be moved on or have signed a pre-contract agreement abroad come then. Could still play, mind you.

But, of course, the January window doesn’t close until the end of the month.

And lurking in the background is Gabriel Martinelli. He will be frothing at the prospect of being handed a string of starts at centre-forward to prove his worth. If Balogun stays around, while clearly far less experienced than Lacazette, he can provide the more physical figure at No. 9 that Lacazette does so superbly.

It’s a huge step down in regards to experience with the youthful two compared to the senior members of the strike force, but dependent on how enticing Newcastle’s offer may be it could be under consideration by Arsenal.

Another aspect that needs factoring in, however, is the desire of Lacazette. Sure, one can assume he’ll be handed an almighty salary by the Magpies to join the club, yet for a striker who is now 30 years old he could be looking at one ‘big’ move closer to his native Lyon.

Comfortable at Arsenal, it could be that he favours a European return, perhaps with continental competition, as opposed to Tyneside in a relegation scrap where he will surely be usurped by the new shiny toy the club will sign further down the line.

So much will hinge on the offer, should it indeed ever arrive. Lacazette is among the options being eyed by the richest sporting institution on the planet and their list of targets will be extensive, for sure.

It’s something to keep an eye on, though.