Arsenal set for disappointment in Lacazette chase

Arsenal look set to be disappointed in their chase to sign star striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, with the Frenchman insisting he will not be moving before the transfer window closes.

Speaking after Lyon’s 2-0 win over Caen in Ligue 1, in which he scored both goals, Lacazette said: “There will be no departure. Everything is going well here at OL.”

The France international has netted five time in just two League 1 games already this season, and has set himself the target for scoring 30 goals for the French club throughout the campaign.

This will come as a blow to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is in the hunt for a new striker before deadline day, and had identified Lacazette as the ideal solution, having already lost out on his two primary targets for the position.

In June, the Gunners made a £20 million bid for Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, which triggered the England international’s buyout clause. After negotiating a move with the player, Vardy ultimately elected to remain with the Premier League champions this season to help them in their title defence and Champions League campaign.

Arsenal also reportedly made a player plus cash bid, which would have seen Olivier Giroud move the other way, to Napoli for Gonzalo Higuaín. Napoli rejected the bid and Higuaín has since signed for Juventus after the Italian champions met his whopping €90 million release clause.