english premier league giant Arsenal has been on the look out for a prolific striker for close to five years now but it seems that their search has come to an end. According to reports in several sections of the British and French media, Arsenal is poised to break the club transfer record with the acquisition of French striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Record deal
Arsenal, as a club, is not known to spend huge sums of money on transfers but the deal for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette is all set to smash the club's transfer record. The reported fee for Alexandre Lacazette's signature is going to be around $56.3 million (£44 million), thereby eclipsing the $54.3 million (£42.5 million) that the club paid to sign German star Mesut Ozil back in 2013.
Arsenal had tried to sign The Frenchman last season as well but their bid did not meet Lyon's valuation of the player. However, recent discussions between the clubs have been fruitful and the $56.3 million fee should be enough to complete the deal. It is interesting to note that Lacazette had his heart set on a move to Spanish club Atlético Madrid but the move broke down due to Atlético's transfer ban. Arsenal swooped in at the opportunity and should be able to complete the deal following discussions with the player next week.
A proven goalscorer
A game of soccer is ultimately decided by goals and in Lacazette, Arsenal might have found a consistent goal scorer who could propel them to the English Premier League title next season.
He scored 28, 21 and 27 goals in the last three seasons in the French Ligue 1 and has been more prolific than any striker who is currently playing for Arsenal. In addition to that, he is an excellent runner who can time his runs to perfection to get in behind the defensive lines and that would definitely suit Mesut Ozil, who is among the world's best when it comes to threading those sort of passes.
For years, Arsenal had been crying out for a striker with exactly the sort of attributes that Lacazette possesses but somehow they could not get the transfers over the line. This time they have a real chance of landing a striker who will instantly make them a far more dangerous team and the club should do everything to close this deal as soon as possible.
Lacazette is a striker who is in demand and any kind of dithering on the part of the club might prove to be disastrous. However, the speed at which the club has agreed to a fee with Lyon seems to indicate that Arsenal is determined to close this transfer within next week.
