Lyon are playing a risky game if they actually want to receive a substantial amount of money for Alexandre Lacazette.
The latest report from The Telegraph claims that Arsenal are ready to go back to the Ligue 1 club with an improved bid of £35m – our initial bid was €35m – but Lyon are going to offer him another contract. This is something that’s been said ever since we made the first offer, which Lyon very publicly rebuffed.
Meanwhile, Lyon’s coach, Bruno Genesio, claims that he’s confident that Lacazette will be staying put next season.
B.Genesio "Mon président m'a rassuré en disant une nouvelle fois qu'il n'y aurait pas de départ d'A.Lacazette" pic.twitter.com/pzY7msEMUA
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) July 29, 2016
“I have discussions with Lacazette,” he said to Lyon’s website.
“It’s my job to ask these players to be there. They are honest discussions between a coach and a player. We will not lose Lacazette, I am confident.”
Lyon’s president has also said that he ‘doesn’t expect’ Arsenal to come back with another bid, which is the biggest ‘I dare you’ I think I’ve ever heard.
WATCH: A blow for Arsenal? Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette appears to be going nowhere: https://t.co/phPIVfpgHP https://t.co/wZ34G3qPAk
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) July 29, 2016
What does this mean for Arsenal?
Well, it’s been pretty widely publicised that Lacazette does want a move to Arsenal but he also doesn’t want any drama. Lyon making their rejection of our offer so public has already drawn attention to the situation, something that Lacazette and Arsenal don’t want.
Sources close to Lacazette have revealed to Telegraph Sport that the striker is strongly interested in the move and wants to go to Arsenal
— Oli (@OliPriceBates) July 30, 2016
From Lyon’s point of view, this is all on purpose. They either want to scare Wenger away by putting what should be private information on display, something the boss has said he doesn’t like, or they want us to enter a bidding war.
Or, option number three, they want to create so much drama around the move that Lacazette opts to just stay put.
Either way, mind games are being played.