Lyon’s president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has said that Arsenal are ‘ready to pay for Lacazette’ as rumours surrounding the player pick up speed.

• Lyon have told Arsenal the price Atletico Madrid were going to pay
• Aulas says Arsenal have no problem with the fee
• Lyon also want Olivier Giroud

Over the weekend it was claimed that both Arsenal and Lyon had come to an agreement over a £44m fee for Alexandre Lacazette. It was also reported that the clubs would meet again early next week to thrash out the details over how much would be paid when, but the player had not yet signed off on the deal nor had Arsenal found any agreement with Lacazette.

Lacazette, for his part, had been hoping to join Atletico Madrid, but even though their transfer ban is in place until January, this seems like it is still an option. Quite how much a player like Lacazette would enjoy sitting on the sidelines until January, especially in a World Cup year, remains to be seen.

“I do not intend to sell Alexandre quickly, because there is always the option of Atletico Madrid signing him on January 1, 2018,” Aulas told L’Equipe.

“I also listen to what Alexandre says.

“I saw Arsene during the match between France and England. I was with Gerard Houllier [Lyon advisor and close Wenger friend] and I understand he [Wenger] told Gerard that there could be an interest from Arsenal.

“But it is premature to say that things will be done. We can not let a player of that quality go without his replacement.

“We are talking about €50m [£43.7m] to €60m [£52.5m]. Arsenal is ready to pay for Lacazette.

“Everyone knows Atletico were going to pay €53m [£46.4m] plus €12m [£10.5m] in add-ons. That’s €65m [£56.9m].

“The Arsenal executives are well informed, they will be in those waters.

“The price for a player who scores, every year, between 25 and 30 goals, sometimes more than 30, is at least that.

“But frankly, I have not thought about Arsenal for the moment, because I thought that Alexandre would stay because of the failure, initially, with Atletico Madrid.”

Aulas also admitted that Lyon had made an enquiry regarding the signing of Olivier Giroud, a player they clearly see as a replacement for Lacazette.

Giroud has stated he wants to stay at Arsenal, even if they sign Lacazette, while Wenger has stated he wants him to stay.

With so many moving parts, it could be a while before we get a resolution to all this.