Lyon manager Hubert Fournier has revealed where he thinks Arsenal and Liverpool target Alexandre Lacazette will be playing next season, reports the Metro.
The OL boss is adamant that his star player will be staying at the Stade de Gerland, and this will be a major blow to the Premier League pair. After scoring 19 goals in 35 appearances last season the 24-year-old has become one of the most sought after talents in Europe.
He even beat high-profile figures such as Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Ligue 1’s top goalscorer award, with 27 in 32 league matches.
“Olympique Lyonnais,” said Fournier when asked where Lacazette would be in the next campaign, “I haven’t got much to say. He has said he wants to stay with us. Of course some clubs are going to be attracted to the sort of player he is but he is under contract at Lyon and with all of the different competitions we have this season with the Champions League and the domestic French cups, we obviously want to keep him at the club.”
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The forward could have been exactly what the Gunners needed, with a focal point for their attack probably necessary if they are going to challenge Chelsea for the Premier League title. Olivier Giroud has had his critics when playing at the top level, and other options such as Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott have never played their regularly.
Meanwhile, their Merseyside rivals may not be as worried by missing out on the France international, having just completed a deal to bring Christian Benteke from Aston Villa. The 24-year-old netted 16 times in 38 games last time round, and Brendan Rodgers will be hoping he can in part fill the void left by Luis Suarez over the past 12 months.