The Gunners have had an offer worth 35 million euro for the 25-year-old striker turned down, the Ligue 1 club have confirmed.
Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal have had an offer of €35m (£29.3m) for the Lyon striker, Alexandre Lacazette rejected.
Lyon denied that Arsenal have submitted a new bid of €48m for the 25-year-old France international, whom they insist is not for sale.
“Arsenal made an offer of €35m which Lyon didn’t accept for one reason alone – we will keep Alexandre Lacazette,” read a statement released by the club.
Arsenal failed in their attempts to sign another striker, Jamie Vardy, earlier this summer when the England international opted to stay at Leicester City.
The Gunners are reportedly ready to spend up to £75m in a double move for Lacazette and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez, but Lyon are determined to keep their star player. Zlatan Ibrahimovic alone has scored more goals in Ligue 1 over the past three seasons and Lacazette, a converted winger, is thought to be nearing his prime.
“Lacazette is one of the main leaders of Bruno Genesio’s squad,” Lyon’s statement continued. “We categorically deny having received an offer of €48m [£40.2m] from Arsenal for him, as has been reported.”
Lacazette has been linked with a number of big clubs since scoring 27 league goals in the 2014-15 season and is thought to be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, but Lyon’s financial difficulties are behind them and they are not compelled to sell.