ARSENAL snubbed a “substantial” Roma bid for Alexandre Lacazette in the summer – and his high price tag will again deter admirers in January.
The Gunners concentrated on keeping Lacazette’s strike-partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the last transfer window.
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Italian giants Roma failed to match Arsenal’s valuation of striker Alexandre Lacazette in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But they still reportedly rebuffed Roma’s offer as too low.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein tweeted: “Arsenal did receive a substantial offer towards the end of the transfer window just gone from Roma for Lacazette.
“It fell below their valuation for him & so he stayed put. I can’t imagine that situation would develop again in January.”
Meanwhile, the Gunners’ main priority in the transfer market is likely to be recruiting Lyon’s Houssem Aouar.
But a major pursuit next summer, rather than January, seems more probable.
The attacking midfielder, 22, picked up his first France cap last month.
Luring Lyon’s Houssem Aouar could be Arsenal’s transfer priority in the next two transfer windowsCredit: AFP or licensors
And Ornstein believes a creative talent – especially the Lyon-born starlet – is at the top of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s wish-list, ahead of a right-sided centre-back.
The suggestion is the Gunners are already well advanced in their transfer planning.
And it would certainly be understandable if Arteta was thinking ahead, given that Arsenal lie 11th in the Premier League, with four defeats in eight games.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
