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Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal: Arsene Wenger confident of £50m deal - report
ARSENAL are reportedly edging closer to a deal for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Alexandre Lacazette scores with wonder touch
Arsenal are chasing a deal for the Lyon hitman, with Arsene Wenger set to be handed a transfer kitty in excess of £100million.
Monaco star Kylian Mbappe has also been linked with a move to the Emirates, although the Gunners would have to shatter the world-transfer record to sign him.
Reports have suggested Olivier Giroud, who only signed a new deal in January, could be used in a part-exchange deal to land either Lacazette or Mbappe.
Giroud would prefer to stay in north London, although would supposedly prefer Lacazette to join over Mbappe, as he feels his arrival would be more healthy in terms of competition for places goes.
Arsenal want to sign Alexandre Lacazette
We have a very strong relationship with Alexander
And now according to The Sun, Wenger is growing increasingly confident he will be able to sign Lacazette for a club-record fee of £50m.
It is said Wenger feels Lyon would be open to such a deal, which in turn, could pave the way for Giroud to join West Ham.
Lyon’s chairman Jean-Michel Aulas revealed he has been inundated with offers for Lacazette.
He said: “We have a very strong relationship with Alexander.
"We are not going to do anything that could upset him, only if it was agreed in the beginning.
Arsene Wenger hopes to sign Alexandre Lacazette
"We are in contact with the people who advise him and with some clubs that call us from time to time."
However, he was quick to point out it is not guaranteed that Lacazette, who is on Atletico Madrid’s radar, will necessarily leave the club.
He added: “We remind you that the departure of Lacazette is not final," he added.
"We want to keep him, we need a quality team and he is part of it."
Lacazette’s current deal expires in June 2019.
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