Arsenal make 'very nice' bid for Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon president confirms

Jean-Michel Aulas remains confident the striker will not leave the club

Arsenal have made a “very nice” offer for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette but the French club are standing firm, according to their president Jean-Michel Aulas.

The Gunners have been chasing Lacazette for a number of seasons but have never got the deal over the line, although Arsene Wenger is more willing to spend this season in order to get back into the Champions League.

The 26-year-old scored 28 goals in Ligue 1 last season and is also wanted by Paris Saint-Germain, with Aulas previously stating he would prefer to sell to PSG so the league keeps the talent rather than losing it to clubs from abroad.

Wenger had been spotted back in his native France this month alongside chief executive Ivan Gazidis but received a setback in the hunt for Lacazette when the Frenchman said he would only move to a club who were able to offer him Champions League football – which the Gunners cannot.

He was originally set to move to Atletico Madrid before their transfer ban was upheld, giving Arsenal a chance to sign him, and Aulas confirmed they had made a bid for the striker.

“Alexandre Lacazette was told he could leave,” Aulas said. “We had negotiations with Atletico. Things did not work out. We now have a very nice offer from Arsenal. But for us he will not leave.”

Aulas had previously stated that he would not stand in Lacazette’s way if the club “in his heart” became available and after his comments, that club is seemingly not Arsenal.