Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Alexandre Lacazette, Gonzalo Higuain Rumours

Reported Liverpool transfer target Alexandre Lacazette has been hailed as one of the world’s finest footballers by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who claims the French forward is a better player than Gareth Bale.

As noted by Anthony Chapman of the Express, the Reds are one of a clutch of clubs that have been linked with a potential move for the French striker. But if Aulas rates the 23-year-old higher than Bale, per Robin Bairner of Goal.com, Liverpool may have to stump up a fair bit of cash for his signature:

While it’s hard to directly compare the two—stylistically and positionally, Lacazette and Bale are completely different players—there’s little denying that the Lyon man is enjoying a real breakthrough campaign in Ligue 1 this season.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

As we can see here courtesy of French football expert Julien Laurens, the Lyon man is in sensational form at the moment, and his recent run of goals puts him among elite company:

Here’s a closer look at what the Reds would be getting should they stump up the cash to bring him to Anfield:

For Lacazette, Lyon seems to be the ideal team to continue his development. Not only is he a product of the club’s revered youth academy, but he’s a local lad too. With that in mind, you suspect he’ll be delighted to remain at the club provided they continue to push forward and match his own lofty ambitions.

At the moment they are doing exactly that, sitting pretty at the top of Ligue 1. As noted here by Bleacher Report's French football expert Andrew Gibney, Lacazette is the crown jewel in an effervescent and aesthetic young side:

Liverpool will be hoping the bright lights of Anfield could potentially lure Lacazette away from France, but with his boyhood club likely to command a Champions League spot next season and possibly even a league title come the end of the campaign, don’t expect the forward to be moving anywhere for the time being.

In fact, the Reds’ reported interest in Gonzalo Higuain is perhaps more likely to yield a transfer. According to various reports (h/t Jack de Menezes of The Independent), Liverpool have been lining up a £30 million bid for the Argentina striker, who could be sold after Napoli’s acquisition of Manolo Gabbiadini:

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Stylistically, Higuain is a completely different player to Lacazette, but he too knows where the back of the net is, as we can see here:

It’s difficult to see the Partenopei relinquishing control of a thoroughbred goalscorer like Higuain mid-season, truth be told. Napoli are in a real scrap to notch a Champions League spot in Serie A this year, and the clinical instincts of their No. 9 could prove to be the difference between a position in the top three or further down the league table.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Dimond takes a look at the potential of the Reds striking a deal:

On paper, Higuain would be a fine foil for the dynamic talents of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling. He’s a refined forward who possesses astute movement, polished hold-up pay and forensic finishing ability, qualities that the Anfield faithful have seen a real dearth of so far this season.

But if Liverpool do harbour serious intentions of getting Higuain on board, then it's likely they will have to put their interest on hold until the summer, for the Napoli supporters would be outraged to see their star forward sold in January. While Gabbiadini is a shrewd purchase for the San Paolo club, he is nowhere the level of the Argentina hitman.