Why Lyon Forward Alexandre Lacazette Is Transfer Target for Europe's Top Clubs

The January transfer window might not have seen too many big deals between Europe's top clubs just yet, but things could yet pick up in the final week, if media reports are to be believed.

One of the most often-reported names interesting the continent's elite sides is Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette, top scorer in Ligue 1 this season and a target for the likes of Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, according to French media source Le10Sport.com (h/t The Telegraph). Other English clubs have also been linked over the past few months.

Being in such good form and at a club who have generally sold off their top assets over the last few seasons, it's easy to see why Lacazette is in such demand and might make the move soon enough.

Goalscoring

First and foremost, this is comfortably Lacazette's best season for hitting the back of the net.

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A career-best 15 Ligue 1 goals from last term have already been comfortably outstripped, with his 21 league appearances already yielding 20 goals in 2014-15—that's one goal every 93 minutes over the course of the campaign.

A finishing touch is all well and good, but Lacazette has increasingly shown both the consistency and composure in front of goal to go along with both more maturity inside the box and, vitally at times, the ability to make a difference when it really counts, not just when the team is already two goals to the good. Lacazette's strikes have taken Lyon to the top of the table.

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That's 21 goals in 21 appearances for the 23-year-old Lacazette in Ligue One alone. 24 goals in 21 apps in all comps. Unbelievable.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) January 20, 2015"

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Alexandre Lacazette is the first player to score 20 goals after 21 games in Ligue 1 since Carlos Bianchi in 1977/78. (Opta)

— Get French Football (@GFN_France) January 17, 2015"

Style

Lacazette hasn't always been an out-and-out forward for his side. His younger days were spent on the flanks, looking to add pace and dynamism to the attack rather than leading the line himself.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press/Associated Press

French football expert and writer Andrew Gibney gives us more detail on the playing style of the 23-year-old:

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Lacazette's time on the wing for OL has helped his development. His pace helps him drift wide and beat the defence with pace, and great upper body strength. However, he also loves to receive the ball with his back to goal. Then he will either spin and beat them with pace, or link up with team-mates to get in behind. But if you stand off him, he is not afraid to shoot from distance...and score.

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With the likes of Nabil Fekir, Maxime Gonalons and the still-going-strong Steed Malbranque all contributing toward buildup play and creating chances, Lacazette has a good core of players behind him providing the service he is taking full advantage of.

Experience, Age, Price

Still only 23, Lacazette is considered fairly "young," though next season and beyond he will be pretty much looking at the key and peak five- or six-year period of his career. As such, he may well be looking to see out the title-chasing season with Lyon and help them toward silverware, before opting to move on in the summer, rather than departing halfway through the campaign.

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Even so, he has four full seasons of top-flight football behind him, plus another part-campaign since making his debut in 2009-10, and he is a full French international.

He still has plenty of time on his contract, but without any real figures being reported at present for a potential transfer, it's hard to know just which teams might be in the running for his signature. Lyon would no doubt push for a much higher fee now, if they would negotiate at all, since losing Lacazette midseason would likely derail any title tilt.

Either way, Europe's biggest teams aren't likely to be put off making their move for too long.

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