Few players in Europe have been as good as Alexandre Lacazette.
The Lyon forward has always been considered one of the most talented youngsters in Europe. And of course, the French National Team has always rated him highly. However, this season Lacazette took a step forward in his development. And he went from being a breakout player to become an undisputed star. One that has several big teams all over the world trying to sign him.
A 25-year-old forward capable of playing all over the final third, Lacazette proved he needs to leave the Ligue 1. Making it simple, he’s just too good to play for a team that doesn’t even contend for the title. And if we look at the numbers, we can realize Lacazette needs better competition to continue his growth.
The Lyon star has netted 21 goals in 25 matches across all competitions this season. But he’s been extremely prolific in the Ligue 1, with 18 goals in equal number of games. He doesn’t have anything left to proof on his native soil, and several teams have already taken note of that.
Real Madrid is one of the teams that already made a move to sign him. So have Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and even Bayern Munich. And as recent as a few days ago, FC Barcelona also expressed interest in his services. The latter doesn’t seem realistic as he’d probably warm the bench behind Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but the other teams all seem to be a good destination for the attacker. Even Atletico Madrid, West Ham United and Liverpool have been linked with the Lyon starlet, but so far no bids have been accepted. This could change soon, though, as Lacazette reportedly expressed interest in joining a new team this next summer.
Honestly, the possibilities are endless. He could be perfect for Atletico Madrid either as as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement, or as his partner instead of Kevin Gameiro. He would also fit in Real Madrid, creating a deadly attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. But that’s not all.
Lacazette could also flourish playing opposite to Eden Hazard in Chelsea’s attack. Or he could be the perfect complement for Robert Lewandowski in Bayern. He would fit as a second striker in other EPL sides as well. Can you imagine the pace that Arsenal would have with Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Lacazette upfront, for instance?
Any team that wants him will have to pay around €70 million to sign him. Sure, that’s a steep price. But when we consider he’s ready to move to a bigger league, teams should start a bidding war for him. As we mentioned above he’s only 25 years old, and with a few years left before he hits his prime, he’s getting more and more expensive on a weekly basis.
The only question now it’s which team can land him. But it would be a shock if we don’t see Lacazette in the EPL, the Bundesliga or La Liga ahead of the 2017-18 season.