Meeting scheduled: Arsenal line up move for £45million-rated striker as battle hots up
By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes
Arsenal have joined the race to sign prolific striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to a report.
The Sunday Mirror claim manager Arsene Wenger will meet with a representative of the Lyon hotshot in France this week.
Wenger is said to have turned his attention to Lacazette after missing out on Jamie Vardy, who signed a new Leicester contract on Thursday.
West Ham have been the Premier League team most strongly linked with 24-year-old Lacazette, who scored 21 goals in 34 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
The Evening Standard reported the Hammers had a £32million offer rejected for the striker, while there is also apparent interest from Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham.
The asking price for the in-demand spearhead has risen to £45million, which is a figure that is not out of reach for Arsenal.
Wenger has the finance to prise Lacazette from France as he tweaks a strike force that will be without the injured Danny Welbeck for most of next season.
Lacazette has three years left on his contract, and that enables Lyon to put a premium price on their prize asset.
In other Arsenal transfer news, Mesut Ozil has urged a Bundesliga trio to join him in the Premier League.