Roma have joined the likes of Sevilla and Atletico Madrid in the race for out-of-favor Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette. Per ESPN, as relayed The Sun, the Gunners have a tough choice to make heading into the summer as the Frenchman approaches the final 12 months of his contract.
With Lacazette’s deal at the Emirates set to run out in the summer of 2022, Arsenal can either opt to cash in on their struggling forward or accept the risk of losing him for free at the end of next season.
The 29-year-old has endured a rollercoaster of a season, netting only 13 goals in 34 appearances, though he’s grown increasingly valuable in recent times. The Gunners’ No9 got on the scoresheet in three of his last four Premier League outings, including a match-winner over Tottenham and an equalizer versus West Ham United.
Still, Lacazette has largely been a peripheral figure in north London since Mikel Arteta arrived at the helm. Having struggled for form and fitness, the former Lyon man has tumbled down the pecking order and could be looking to depart the English capital after four years.
Atletico Madrid are long-term admirers of Lacazette, but Sevilla and Roma have now joined the queue.
Though the Giallorossi are dark horses in this race, they have demonstrated their ability to lure big names over the past couple of years.
Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have shown the Stadio Olimpico is a fertile ground for out-of-sorts Premier League stars.
Once subjects of mockery at Manchester United, the duo is now among the most consistent in Serie A, an example Lacazette might want to follow.
Meanwhile, following a bust-up with the club’s most prolific striker, Edin Dzeko, Paulo Fonseca is desperate to land a proven forward to fill the scoring need.
The French powerhouse would be a massive upgrade on Roma’s current attacking options, but it will take some convincing from the Italians to get the deal over the line.