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Arsenal move closer to Lacazette deal as striker offers leverage

Arsenal move closer to Lacazette deal as striker offers leverage

Lyon have admitted that they made an approach for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud as the Gunners look to be edging closer to their star target Alexandre Lacazette, according to Take Football.

Lacazette was at one point on the verge of signing for Atletico Madrid but following their transfer ban imposed by FIFA, the Frenchman is now readily available for interested suitors to launch offers, with the north-London side reportedly the closest to signing the French international, in a fee thought to be around £44m.

This would make the 26-year-old a record signing for Arsenal, and their most exciting and expensive signing since German midfielder Mesut Ozil came to the Emirates stadium for £42.5m in 2013.

It would be a statement of intent for the club looking to mount a serious title challenge, and despite their entry to the Europa League, it would be thought at this point in time that under-fire manager Arsene Wenger would be looking to focus mainly on pursing a Premier League title.

Jacque Talbot (@Jac_Talbot)