Lyon talisman Alexandre Lacazette eyeing summer move
By Marcel Dumas
A consistent goal scoring forward should have no shortage of suitors for their services. Alexandre Lacazette is one of those players whose stats point towards a greater opportunity than leading the line at Lyon.
The last few transfer seasons have all involved rumors linking Lacazette to clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and a host of other major clubs. His presence in Lyon points to the fact that he was not as wanted as we believe, or the club said no to even fair value offers.
It appears Lacazette’s move from the fields of Ligue 1 to a greater challenge may finally come about this summer. In speaking to the media, Lacazette revealed his focus was on this season and he would look at things this summer. If Lyon are willing to listen to offers, the list of suitors could be interesting to follow. The following could all find making a run at capturing his services.
Liverpool
With concerns over Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool could be the front-runner for Lacazette. His runs coupled with his clinical finishing would fit well with Phlipppe Coutinho and what Liverpool are trying to do in their attack. Lacazette is well-built and should have no issue with handling the physical nature of the Premier League. He has a low center of gravity making him hard to knock off the ball and enough speed to back defenders off.
Arsenal
Is he French, check, then Arsene Wenger is plotting a move for him. While that scenario is not to far-fetched, there has been reported interest by the London club. A late summer bid by Arsenal was reportedly turned down by Lyon. There is no reason to think Arsenal would not give it a look, but with the way their team is currently structured would he provide an upgrade over their current options? With Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez all able to man who position, would heading to Arsenal push him out to the flank? Before this season, signing Lacazette made sense, now it seems less likely but we will still hear about it.
West Ham
Recent rumors have linked West Ham with an approach for the striker. Lacazette would bring a great deal to the Hammers. Partnering with Dmitri Payet would make for an exciting combination in the attack. As much as he could help West Ham, there does not seem to be much reason for him to go there. It would be a move up in league profile, but not in pecking order of clubs. Giving away European competition for bottom half of the Premier League does not add up for Lacazette. One can understand why West Ham would be interested though.
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Juventus
Another rumor that made summer rounds was a move to Juventus. Even with Gonzalo Higuain leading the line for the Italian club, Lacazette could give their attack a boost. Lacazette would provide a fitting partner for the Argentinian. He would also provide a ready-made replacement in case Higuain leaves anytime soon. The opportunity to chase the Champions League trophy would be a regular occurrence at Juventus.
Conclusion
There are several other options for Lacazette to consider. There may be some teams in La Liga, or even PSG may make an approach. His most likely destination is the Premier League with Liverpool perhaps the most likely landing spot. No matter who gets into the conversation, the Lacazette transfer saga will be one of the most dominating headlines coming out of France this summer.