The door isn’t closed to a contract extension for Alexandre Lacazette, according to David Ornstein, but it would only happen under specific conditions.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Writing for The Athletic, David Ornstein reports that Alexandre Lacazette may yet remain at Arsenal beyond this summer, despite his expiring contract.

Lacazette has impressed Mikel Arteta and other Arsenal staff in training with his attitude. His contract runs out in June, but that might not be the end of his spell in North London.

Arsenal aren’t ruling out an extension, but only under certain conditions.

For a start, it would have to be a short-term extension. Arsenal don’t want to tie themselves to Lacazette for the long term when they have up-and-coming youth strikers and may want to invest at centre-forward in the transfer market.

The club also don’t want to be burdened with another big salary, so Lacazette presumably wouldn’t be getting Mesut Ozil or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wages.

It remains to be seen what Lacazette thinks about that. At this point in their careers, many players often understandably push for one last big payday, and Arsenal don’t seem to be offering that.

But right now, Lacazette is an important player in the Arsenal team. He’s made himself a starter again, alongside Aubameyang.

If he values that feeling of importance enough to stick around for at least one or two more seasons, he could always follow the money after that.