Arsenal prepare £35m bid for Alexandre Lacazette

Last week, after Lyon released a statement that it would not be selling 25-year-old forward Alexandre Lacazette, calling him "irreplaceable," reports later emerged that Arsenal were planning to press on in its attempts to sign the Frenchman. Rumor had it that Arsenal, having failed in its bid of £29.5m (€35m) was willing to make an offer closer to £33.7m (€40m).

Today, the oft-reliable Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph (given a second-highest rating of AA by the TSF Transfer Window Primer) today reports that Arsenal are ready to bid around £35m (€41.5m) for Lacazette. Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas claimed on Thursday that Arsenal would not be making another bid, but it appears that he may have been wrong.

Arsenal are, of course, without the services of Danny Welbeck into next year and will not see Olivier Giroud return from his post-Euro 2016 break until after the start of the new season. Arsenal have Theo Walcott, Chuba Akpom, and Joel Campbell to select from to play up top, all of whom are lacking either production, first-team Arsenal experience as a central striker, or both.

Arsenal were previously interested in Morata, who is now back at Real Madrid, and Higuain, who is now at Juventus thanks to a ridiculous buyout clause met by The Old Lady.

We shall see what develops. Watch this space.