‘Arsenal have made Lacazette bid’

Alexandre Lacazette has said he will only move to a club offering him Champions League football

Arsenal have made an offer for Alexandre Lacazette but he will not be leaving Lyon, according to the French club’s president.

Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed Arsenal have submitted a bid for the 26-year-old France international, who scored 28 Ligue 1 goals for Lyon last season.

The Gunners’ move for Lacazette comes after a transfer to Atletico Madrid broke down following the La Liga side’s transfer ban, but a change in Lyon’s stance on the player could scupper any switch to the Emirates, according to Aulas.

“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.”

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Lacazatte had insisted in May he would only move to a club who were able to offer him Champions League football, with Arsenal’s failure to finish in the top four meaning they will miss out on next season’s competition.

Lyon turned down a £43m bid for Lacazette from West Ham last summer and Aulas had initially suggested he would not stand in the player’s way if a move to the club “in his heart” became available.