Arsenal boost as Lyon manager opens doors to Lacazette transfer

Arsenal have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, with Lyon manager Bruno Genesio stating that there are certain offers you cannot refuse if they are on the table. The Gunners are in the market for a striker and have earmarked Lacazette as a possible target after being thwarted in their pursuit of Jamie Vardy and Gonzalo Higuain.

The north London club have already had a bid rejected for the striker this summer and have been reported to be considering an improved bid this summer, which is yet to come to fruition. Lyon value the striker at £40m ($53m) and Genesio's recent comments suggest that a bid in that range should be enough to land the striker, who has signed a new four-year deal only last August.

"He can leave if Lyon want him to. There are some offers that you cannot refuse," the manager of the French club said, as quoted by the Mirror. "My desire as manager is that the best players stay and Lacazette is very important for the team. I have been assured by my president that we will keep the player. You never know what could happen right up until the 31st August."

The comments come days after Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas confirmed that they are not willing to sell Lacazette at any price and are considering offering him a new bumper deal to keep him at the club. The striker scored 48 goals in the league in the last two seasons and has already rejected advances from West Ham, as he wants to play in the Champions League.

"I guarantee you that Lacazette has not (asked us to leave)," Aulas was quoted as saying in L'equipe, after the striker scored a goal in the pre-season 3-2 victory over Benfica. "He has rarely been in such a good shape at the start of a season. He is strong mentally.

"He has seen that (teammate) Corentin Tolisso has stayed partly for him and to show him that he has to stay. However, we are trying to find a solution to make him realise that he is a very important player for us, if not the most important. We know how to do that. Anyway, for me, the subject is closed."

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has stressed that he is in the market for a striker and a defender, following the injury to Per Mertesacker. The German is likely to miss a major part of the season after going under the knife for a knee problem he picked up against Lens in a pre-season friendly.