Arsenal striker remains priority target for Ligue 1 side | OneFootball

Alexandre Lacazette remains Olympique Lyonnais’ priority target for the summer transfer window, but they’re exploring alternatives.

L’Equipe (via GFFN) report that Alexandre Lacazette remains Lyon’s priority for the summer transfer window, but their very likely absence from Europe next season makes that more difficult.

As a result, Lyon have started to explore alternative targets, including meeting with the representatives of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Breel Embolo.

Mikel Arteta has previously suggested Arsenal will discuss the prospect of a contract extension for Lacazette at the end of the season, with reports suggesting the club could offer a new one-year deal with the option for a further season afterwards.

But those reports came before Eddie Nketiah broke into the side and scored four goals in five games.

If the Gunners were going to push to sign one of them up now, you’d imagine Nketiah is the favourite.

Even if he doesn’t end up with Lyon, Lacazette suggested in April that he’s in conversations with various alternative new clubs.

“I am in discussions with a lot of clubs. I am open,” Lacazette said.

“I have never cut contact with Lyon since I left. I try to return to the club once or twice a year to see the medical staff because we are really close. Lyon knows that I am free, they have come to the information.”

As things stand, Lyon are eighth in Ligue 1 with just two games left and a five-point gap to the teams in the European places.

It’s a relatively sure thing they won’t be playing in Europe, which Lacazette admitted is a problem for him.

“It’s a bit more complicated,” Lacazette conceded. “I want to play in Europe, it’s been a long time since I played in the Champions League, I’m missing it.

“It’s a little more complicated, nothing is impossible in life, but it’s a little more complicated.”