Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may look to take advantage of his relationship with Gerard Houllier to land Lyon goal machine Alexandre Lacazette, according to Football London.
The news website claim that Houllier is a “very close friend” of Wenger, and his current role as general manager at the French club could aid the club’s reported pursuit of the 26-year-old star.
Wenger is keen to sign the France international in a bid to end the club’s prolonged pursuit of a prolific goalscorer this summer, a search which has coincided with Arsenal’s distinct lack of silverware over the past decade.
Arsenal saw two bids for Lacazette rejected by Lyon last summer as they fell well short of the £45million price-tag on his head, but they may need to stump up even more cash to finally land their man this year.
But their previous failure to make an acceptable offer has caused friction in the Lyon camp, with Wenger meeting with Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas in London this week for talks over a deal.
Houllier was also part of Lyon’s travelling party to the capital, and it is understood that Wenger is hoping to use the former Liverpool manager, who could act as “an intermediary”, to his own advantage.
Lacazette scored 37 goals from 45 appearances in all competitions for Lyon last season, the second time in the last four years where he has scored more than 30 goals in a single season.
French news outlet Le10Sport claim that Aulas has offered Arsenal a part-exchange offer that could see current Gunners forward Olivier Giroud move in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph have reported that the Premier League giants have been told they must pay a staggering £60million fee, including add-ons, if they hope to sign Lacazette.
Talks are expected to continue over the coming weeks as Arsenal attempt to fight-off competition from their European rivals for the signature of one of the continent’s most prolific talents.