Reports have already linked Alexandre Lacazette to Atletico Madrid but the La Liga outfit are ready to test Arsenal’s resolve this summer.
Unai Emery is desperate to add more cash to his transfer budget, having come up short in all his transfer pursuits of Kieran Tierney, William Saliba and Wilfried Zaha.
Lacazette’s representatives have already been reported to have met with the Gunners chiefs this week. One news outlet claims it was to discuss a new contract while Yahoo Sport believes it was to discuss about Atletico’s interest in him.
The striker is tied down at North London till the summer of 2022. After his impressive performances this season, Arsenal were thought to have promised him a pay hike.
However, the absence of Champions League football give top players like Lacazette an incentive to consider other options.
Atletico are set to lose Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona this summer and it makes complete sense for them to pursue Lacazette. They hope to raise the £126m they spent on Joao Felix through Griezmann’s sale and might still have enough left over to pay heavy for the 28-year-old Arsenal forward.
The question remains on whether the Gunners will cave to Diego Simeone’s demands. Emery is pressed for time after a less than ideal debut season at North London.
He needs to improve the squad with whatever resources he has been allotted. That would mean striking a balance by adding wingers and most importantly, defenders.
Selling Lacazette will still leave behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the club’s leading striker but it will also give Arsenal the opportunity to maybe sign Zaha, Tierney and Saliba.
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