The Lyon striker is one of Europe’s most coveted players, and he
commented on the possibility of moving to the Gunners and Atletico on
Monday
Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette has affirmed he could forego Champions
League football next season, in an apparent wink to long-term suitors
Arsenal.
The France striker has been linked with a move to the Emirates
Stadium on repeated occasions, although no official approach has ever
materialised.
And with Arsene Wenger’s men relegated to the Europa League for
2017-18, they may struggle to compete in the transfer market over the
summer.
Lacazette, however, admits he would not turn down a club solely because they were out of the big competition.
“Is the Champions League a dealbreaker for my choice? No, but it is
important,” he said in a live Facebook chat hosted by Eurosport .
“In making my choice, I will look at my position [in my next club],
if there are not too many players, so I won’t be benched and I will be
able to play.
“The Premier League is interesting. That does not mean I will go, and that does not mean I will refuse to go.”
Atletico were another side connected with Lacazette in the past, but a
FIFA-imposed transfer ban means he will not be moving to the Spanish
capital this summer – although a loan move back to Lyon is a
possibility.
“Like everyone else, I heard the news. This was always going to be a
possibility, it was 50-50. The decision has not perturbed me, life goes
on,” he said.
“A loan to Lyon until the winter window? I have not looked at that
much because the president is saying that that is not possible. We will
have to prepare ourselves for all eventualities, but that is not the way
I want it to go.