Arsene Wenger is determined to complete a deal for Alexandre Lacazette before Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Australia, Metro has revealed.
The Frenchman is a confirmed target for the Gunners but the two clubs are yet to reach a financial agreement.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Lyon want at least £57million to sell the player, a fee the Gunners are reluctant to meet.
"I do not intend to cede Alexandre [Lacazette] quickly, because there is always the will of Atletico Madrid to bring it [the transfer] to January 1," Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas told L'Equipe.
"Now I also listen to what Alexandre says. I saw Arsene [Wenger] during the France versus England match.
"I was with Gerard Houllier and I understand that he told Gerard that there could be interest from Arsenal.
"But it's premature to say that things will happen. It takes a very large transfer before. A player of that quality cannot be allowed to leave without having his replacement.
"It will have to be at least that [£57m].
"Everyone knows that the offer of Atletico is €53m [£46.5m] plus €12M [£10.5m].
"As the leaders of Arsenal are well informed, they will be in those waters."
"The prices for a player who marks every year with between 25 and 30 goals, sometimes more than 30, is at least 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 the Atletico Madrid move."
