Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed an extension deal for Alexandre Lacazette, whose contract will expire 2022, is not yet in the table for Arsenal due to pressing market concerns preoccupying the Premier League giants. The club boss made the admission as Lacazette indicated his willingness to remain at the Emirates beyond his existing agreement.
The French striker scored a goal in the winning game against West Ham and the expectation is high that the Gunners will want to keep him on the roster. Specifically, Lacazette has only 20 months on his deal with Arsenal and speculations are rife he is tipped to switch sides, likely before the summer transfer window closes.
The interested sides mentioned so far include Atletico Madrid and Juventus, and according to The Sun, Arsenal might just entertain offers on the goalscorer if the package presented should be tempting enough.
While Arteta has expressed happiness with Lacazette's performance since taking over the top job at the Emirates in late 2019, he acknowledged the fact that rumors of the player possibly moving away soon will not die down. And that's because the forward's time with Arsenal is running out just under two years.
It's not helping too that Lacazette is 29 and his age has been cited as a factor for Arteta's side to consider offloading him if an opportunity arises.
On this, the latest update from Arsenal is expected to further fuel the talks of Lacazette jumping to a new side anytime soon.
Arteta stated: "At the moment we haven't started any negotiations. We have a lot of things still to do in this market."
Metro said Arsenal seeing the emergence of a younger replacement will make it easier for the club to let go of the Frenchman. That new man to step in is Eddie Nketiah, who scored the goal that sealed the game for the Gunners against West Ham.
The 21-year-old London native is seen as a rising star in Arsenal and favored to get the shirt No. 9 if Lacazette will end up with a new club in the weeks or months to come.
Arteta confirmed Nketiah is out to prove he is a winner and ready to bring his game to the highest level. The youngster is putting up a good challenge during training and proving he is even more competitive in the actual games. The Spaniard said Nketiah deserves to play in the first-team and will be given his due.
Also, his Arsenal teammates appeared to have received his rise well, and that kind of reception will surely count big, said Arteta.
