Arsenal prepare to offload big-name star to fund Aubameyang’s new salary
Arsenal hoped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette could take their attack to new heights, but the Gunners are ready to give up on that dream.
Alexandre Lacazette enjoyed some brilliant moments during his Arsenal career, but he was never able to seize hold of the starting striker position at the Premier League club.
Now his time in North London is poised to come to an end in order to fund the club’s improved contract offer to fellow attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang.
According to The Daily Star, the Frenchman will take his talent to Atletico Madrid in a move that could be worth up to £30 million. Diego Simeone’s squad was close to acquiring Lacazette when he left Lyon for Arsenal, but a transfer ban scuppered the La Liga club’s hopes. Simeone and his staff will hope they can get the most out of Lacazette at the tail end of his prime as a football player.
Alexandre Lacazette is out for Arsenal
From an Arsenal perspective, it’s a move that had to occur from a financial standpoint. The club need to keep Aubemyang in the fold at all costs. Offloading Lacazette will greatly boost their ability to absorb the Gabon striker’s new contract. The combination of both the incoming transfer fee and the removal of Lazaette’s salary from the team’s wage structure will both have a significantly positive impact on the Gunners’ balance sheets.
It’s not a clear gain for Mikel Arteta’s squad in terms of the on-field product. Lacazette struggled mightily to find consistency during his time with the club, but playing him through the middle allowed Aubameyang to flourish out wide. Arsenal have several young attackers they believe can become quality Premier League strikers in time, but they’ll need to be rushed to the first XI for Arteta’s squad to thrive next season.
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That’s a risk club officials at Arsenal are clearly willing to take. Lacazette never became a club favorite among the team’s fanbase, but he was an effective frontman for the Gunners’ attack more often than not. He may be missed more than Arsenal supporters believe next season.