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Lyon President Aulas on Arsenal & Alexandre Lacazette deal: “It is premature to say that a deal will happen.”

Speaking in an interview with L’Équipe that will be released in full tomorrow, Lyon President Aulas discussed suggestions that Alexandre Lacazette was set to join Arsenal.

Have you received an offer from Arsenal for Alexandre Lacazette?

I do not have the intention of rapidly letting Alexandre go, because there is still a desire from Atletico Madrid to bring him in on the 1st of January. Now, I will also be listening to what Alexandre has to say. I saw Arsène (Wenger), during the match between France and England. I was with Gérard Houllier (Lyon advisor) and I was led to be believed that he said to Gérard that there could be interest from Arsenal. But it is premature to say that a deal will be done. The first thing that needs to happen is that we have to do a very big deal before. We cannot let a player of his quality leave without having a replacement for him.

We are hearing of an offer between €50m and €60m from Arsenal for Alexandre Lacazette.

It will have to be at the very least that. Everyone knows that the offer from Atletico is €53m plus €12m in bonuses. That is €65m. As the Arsenal representatives have been told, a deal would occur around there. The price for a player who scores every year between 25 and 30 goals is at the very least that. But honestly, I have not yet considered Arsenal for the moment, because I thought that Alexandre would stay after his failed departure to Atletico Madrid.