Arsenal are set to seal a deal for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette – and a senior Sky journalist has hailed him potentially as a “great signing”.
Widespread reports on Friday afternoon claimed that the Premier League giants had made a breakthrough in their pursuit of the France international, with the Telegraph reporting that the deal could be done by the start of next week.
It is said that Arsenal have upped their bid for Lacazette to £44million plus “significant” performance-related add-ons and are now just £3,5million short of Lyon’s asking price.
Sky Sports have also claimed that the north Londoners are closing in on the spearhead and senior correspondent Kaveh Solkehol reported on his personal Twitter account on Friday evening that the Lacazette camp are “confident” Arsenal can agree the deal.
Lacazette camp confident Arsenal deal can be agreed. Great news for Arsenal. Wanted Atlético & Champions League football until transfer ban
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 30, 2017
Solkehol claimed Lacazette would be a “great signing for Arsenal if it gets done” and went as far as to claim that the 26-year-old was the “best out-and-out striker I saw last season”.
Great signing for Arsenal if it gets done – Alexandre Lacazette best out-and-out striker I saw last season
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) June 30, 2017
The signing of the striker would be hugely popular among Arsenal supporters, who have been vocal in their desire for manager Arsene Wenger to recruit a potent striker capable of tearing defences to shreds in both domestic and European competition.
Lacazette has an outstanding record in the last three seasons, scoring 37 goals in 45 matches in all competitions in 2016-17, 23 in 44 games in 2015-16 and 31 in 40 appearances in 2014-15.
Since emerging from the Lyon academy ranks, the 11-times France international has struck 129 times in 275 games for the club.