Arsenal have a meeting with their striker Alexandre Lacazette planned for the end of the season to discuss his future in north London.
This is according to Fabrizio Romano, who was speaking about where the Frenchman’s future may lie on the latest episode of the Here We Go podcast.
Do you want to see Lacazette at Arsenal next season?
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Lacazette is now running into the final months of his current deal with the Gunners, having spent almost five years at the Emirates Stadium.
However, the 30-year-old striker has made his desire to play European football next season very clear in a recent interview with a French media outlet.
And with Mikel Arteta’s men currently trailing in their quest for a spot in the top four, Romano believes the two parties will wait until the end of the season to discuss where his future lies.
He claimed: “He said to Canal+ that he has the possibility to go back to Lyon, but it depends on European football. He wants to play European football and the expectation on Lacazette is to have a meeting with Arsenal at the end of the season, when they will know if they will play Champions League football or not, European football or not.
“But Lacazette will want to speak with Arsenal and then to make a decision on his contract. At the moment, the expectation has always been for Lacazette to leave the club on a free.”
TIF Thoughts on Romano’s comments…
Champions League football may be the target for Lacazette ahead of next season, however, is he really the man to take the Gunners forward if they do qualify for the elite competition?
We are not so sure. Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departed in January, Lacazette has been Arsenal’s starting striker, but has not exactly set the league alight in front of goal.
The 30-year-old has certainly shown some creativity in assisting goals this season, but with just one goal to his name in the league since the turn of the year, we do not think this is a sign of a Champions League-quality forward.
Arsenal are believed to be targeting a new striker this summer, and on this basis, we do not think they should be too concerned if Lacazette does not want to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.
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