Olympique Lyonnais still harbour ambitions of keeping striker Alexandre Lacazette, though president Jean-Michel Aulas appreciates that if the right offer came in, he could not refuse the attacker’s right to depart.
Barcelona will be priced out of signing the player, while Arsenal are also unwilling to match OL's price tag.
Aulas told Goal earlier this year that he has a desire to keep the club’s best players, though he did caveat this comment by indicating that sufficient offers would be accepted.
In the case of Lacazette, that means €50 million. Paris Saint-Germain were not ready to offer that amount, but there is a feeling that before the end of August that someone might be tempted. Instead, they turned to other targets, completing the signing of Jese on Monday.
There was a surprising amount of hype over the potential signing of Lacazette in the French capital, yet Aulas did not buckle under the pressure of the Ligue 1 champions and retained the international striker.
Lacazette still harbours hopes of leaving, yet in a recent interview with L’Equipe, Aulas indicated that extending the player’s contract could be a viable answer to the conundrum.
“We are going to try to find a solution so that he feels good and appreciates the relationship we have with him,” the veteran president said.
Goal can confirm this comment went down well with the player and reflects the desire of the board.
OL already prolonged and revalued the player’s contract last season, and if they successfully do so this summer, Lacazette will become the best paid star with the Rhone outfit, leaping ahead of Mathieu Valbuena. “The biggest contract in the history of the club” has even been suggested, though no figure has been given.
This rumour has been confirmed by the Lacazette entourage as being more favourable than a departure.
“I can’t speak to you... I really can’t,” the attacker said after Lyon’s 4-1 Trophee des Champions loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Klagenfurt last Saturday.
Lacazette was injured during that match, with quadriceps problems confirmed, and in the next few days he will undergo examinations as to the severity of the damage. According to Goal sources, he will miss at least three weeks.
It is bad news for Lyon, who will therefore be without their best attacker for the start of the championship. But it’s bad news, too, for the player, who may have seen several exit doors slam shut as a result, notably in England.
Discussions with Arsenal were ongoing and it had appeared that the London club were ready to make a new offer to convince Lyon to part with their star man.
Barcelona’s interest, meanwhile, was real but they were only willing to spend €24 million on a new attacker this summer, and the increase next year is likely to be only to €30m.
Neither club appears ready to meet the demands of Lyon, who are set to keep their star man for just a little longer.
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