Arsenal Transfer News: 31-Goal Striker Issues Demands For Move After Henry Talks

Managers are now making plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, more on the future of Alexandre Lacazette….

Arsenal target Alexandre Lacazette has suggested he’s ready to leave Lyon this summer but made it clear he’ll only join a club competing in the Champions League, according to a report in the Metro.

Lacazette has long been linked with a move to the Emirates and the speculation is rife once again as we approach the summer that Arsene Wenger is ready to renew his interest in the striker.

The French coach is being tipped to defy disgruntled fans and extend his stay at Arsenal and a top class striker is needed with Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud all being linked with moves away from the club.

The Mirror reported last month that that Wenger was ready to launch a formal swoop for Lacazette after making him a prime target but we could face competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

I always thought we’d have a good chance to luring Lacazette to north London when he does leave Lyon and the striker has now suggested that he’s finally ready to seek a fresh challenge at the end of the season after speaking with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

However, it looks like we may struggle to attract him to the Emirates as Lacazette has made it clear he’ll only join a club that can offer Champions League football.

Lacazette is quoted as saying by the Metro:

‘This summer I might go for a breath of fresh air and try something different, always with the idea of progressing in football and as a person,’

‘I’m going to keep working, with the hope that good opportunities come for me this summer.

‘[The team I join] will have to be in the Champions League and play good football – passing the ball, not just hitting it from box to box. Not kick and rush. That would not work for me.’

‘Thierry Henry shook me and told me to keep pushing myself, something we tend to forget when we are young. It made an impression, of course.

‘When a player like Thierry Henry speaks to you, you pay attention. I realised that being a great player is a full-time job.

‘Could I win the Ballon d’Or one day? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First I will try to leave my mark at the club. Then we’ll see.’

Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham has left us sitting sixth in the Premier League table and in danger of missing out on the top four for the first time in 20 years so it looks increasingly unlikely that we’ll be able to offer Lacazette the Champions League football he desires.

The 25-year-old is enjoying a sensational campaign having scored 31 goals for Lyon so there’s no doubt he’d have added a much-needed goal threat up front had we been able to land him this summer.

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However, it looks like unless we can somehow sneak in to the top four over the closing stages of the season, we’ll have to forget about signing Lacazette and move on to other targets.