French side, Olympique Lyonnais is determined to make Arsenal reach deep down into their pocket and part with €65million if they are really interested in landing their star striker, Alexandre Lacazette.
The striker who hit a career-best 28 Ligue 1 goals last season was also on the radar of Atletico Madrid but the upheld ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sports put a spanner in the works.
With reports suggesting Arsenal as the front-runners to land Lacazette, club president, Jean-Michel Aulas has said the Gunners must match a fee that Lyon agreed with Athletico for the France striker.
He said “I do not intend to sell Alexandre quickly, because there is always the option of Atletico Madrid signing him on January 1 2018. I also listen to what Alexandre says. I saw [Arsenal manager] Arsene [Wenger] during the match between France and England. I was with [Lyon general manager] Gerard Houllier and I understand he told Gerard that there could be an interest from Arsenal.
“But it is premature to say that things will be done. It takes a very large transfer. We cannot let a player of that quality go without a replacement.
“Everyone knows Athletico were going to pay €53million plus a €12million bonus. That’s €65 million. The Arsenal executives are well informed, they will have to be in that range.”
Scoring at least 20 Ligue 1 goals in three consecutive seasons for Lyon, Aulas believes that the 26-year-old will command a big fee due to his prowess in front of goal.
“The prices for a player who scores every year between 25 and 30 goals [in all competitions], sometimes more than 30, is at least [€65million],”
He added that, “But frankly, I have not thought about Arsenal for the moment, because I thought that Alexandre would stay because of the failure, initially, with Atletico Madrid.”
