Saudi move back on? former Arsenal star could leave boyhood club for nothing | OneFootball

According to L’Équipe, former Premier League forward Alexandre Lacazette (33) is unlikely to extend his contract with Lyon at the end of the season and could depart the club on a free transfer. The OL captain's current deal is set to expire after he rejoined his boyhood club in 2022. Since his return from Arsenal, Lacazette has scored 69 goals in 112 appearances. He is now just two goals away from reaching the 200-goal milestone for Lyon, having netted 129 times during his first spell at the club.

Since the arrival of Paulo Fonseca, opportunities have become more limited for the former Gunners striker. Summer signing Georges Mikautadze has been given more minutes under the Portuguese head coach, potentially offering a glimpse into what the future holds for the former France international.

Lacazette came close to leaving his boyhood club during the most recent summer transfer window. Several clubs from Saudi Arabia expressed interest in the 33-year-old, but he chose to reject those advances in favour of competing in the Europa League with Lyon. If interest persists, a move to the Saudi Pro League on a free transfer could be a viable option for Lacazette.

The forward spent five seasons in England with Arsenal, having joined the club from Lyon ahead of the 2017–18 campaign. During his time in North London, he scored 71 goals in 206 appearances. He was named Arsenal's Player of the Season in his second year and finished as the club’s top scorer in both the 2017–18 and 2021–22 seasons. He also won the FA Cup once during his stint in England. Lacazette formed a strong partnership up front with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during their time together at the Emirates.