Atletico Madrid still interested in Lacazette
Atletico Madrid are still interested in signing Alexander Lacazette, according to Spanish media outlet Marca.
The Spanish club’s finances have been significantly affected by the pandemic and they will be unable to spend big this summer. This rules out the possibility of them signing Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain or Luis Suarez.
The Rojiblancos are keen on signing a striker this summer as they are aware of their need to score more goals. They were interested in the Frenchman in 2017 and had a verbal agreement to sign him from Lyon but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed them a transfer ban the following month. This caused their deal with Lacazette to fall through and the player signed for Arsenal.
They have remained keen on the striker ever since. In January, they offered Arsenal a player swap deal that would have seen Lacazette head to the Wanda Metropolitano and one of Thomas Lemar, Vitolo or Angel Correa move to the Emirates.
This deal was rejected by the North London side but the needs of both clubs have changed in the last eight months and Atletico will attempt to agree a similar deal with the Gunners this summer. Arsenal will listen to offers for Lacazette who has two years remaining on his deal with the club.
Arsenal do have their eyes on one player in particular from the Rojiblancos and that is Thomas Partey. It is understood that the Spanish club is unwilling to include the Ghanaian midfielder in any swap deal with the Gunners as they are committed to retaining him this summer. Partey has a £45 million release clause but Arsenal have so far refused to trigger his buyout clause.
The Madrid based side will listen to offers for Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa this summer. If they receive a suitable bid for one of their strikers, they will sell the player and reinvest the money in another striker. Lacazette is one of the centre forwards on their list.
