Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette seems to have failed to win the trust of Mikel Arteta as the North London side are planning to sell him off this summer, as per ESPN.
The forward has been really underwhelming this season, scoring just seven goals in 20 Premier League matches so far and the Gunners just cannot afford to hold onto both Lacazette and Aubameyang.
And maybe this is why ESPN are claiming that Arsenal are going to open talks with La Liga side Atletico Madrid as the Diego Simeone is keen to land the 29-year-old.
James Olley writes: “Arsenal are set to hold talks with striker Alexandre Lacazette over his future in the coming weeks amid interest from Atletico Madrid, sources have told ESPN.
“The 29-year-old is not agitating to leave but is believed to be seeking assurances on his role under manager Mikel Arteta next season, given the ongoing uncertainty over whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will remain at the club.
“Arsenal are privately adamant they will not lose both Aubameyang and Lacazette this summer, sources have told ESPN, and Arteta is ready to personally involve himself in talks to convince the Gabon striker to sign an extension to his contract, which expires in 2021.
“Talks with both Aubemeyang and Lacazette have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the club know resolving the situation with their two star strikers is central to wider squad planning.”
Is Alexandre Lacazette on his way to Spain?
The forward does not want to leave the Emirates but Mikel Arteta is clearly prioritising Aubameyang over him at this point in time.
The Gabon international has also been tipped to move out this summer and the Gunners management seem to have decided that parting ways with Alexandre Lacazette is a more tangible idea.
But this decision would also mean that Mikel Arteta will have to bring in a replacement before the new season begins and some experts think it will be Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard.
Alexandre Lacazette has the power to fetch as much as £60 million in the transfer market and the Gunners will be able to bring in Edouard for just half that money and then use the rest for rebuilding their squad.
It still remains to be seen if Atletico are willing to pay such a high price right after the lockdown but Laca still has two years left on his current deal so Arsenal do have the right to quote such an amount.
