Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexandre Lacazette and Petr Cech Rumours

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is determined to keep hold of Alexandre Lacazette after describing the striker as “priceless.”

Per WhoScored.com, Lacazette has scored 27 goals in 33 Ligue 1 appearances this season, and he has followed in some illustrious footsteps with that tally, per OptaJean:

According to UEFA’s official website, his exploits saw the 23-year-old named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and he has now been linked with a move to Arsenal, per Joe Strange of the MailOnline.

Such a move would give Lacazette the chance to emulate Henry again after his compatriot became an integral player at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, and you can find out more about him in the video below:

However, any clubs interested in signing Lacazette this summer have been warned that Lyon are in no mood to let him leave. Aulas, per Canal+ (h/t Strange) said: "We will do everything within our powers to hold on to Alexandre. You never have any certainties in football, but we are determined to keep him here. A transfer fee of €50m (£35m) would not be enough for an attacker like him. He is priceless."

Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle are other clubs to have been linked with Lacazette, per Strange, and the player himself has been less firm on his future.

Lacazette has acknowledged that he is unsure about where he will be playing next season, per Joe Short of the Daily Express, and that will give hope to his suitors.

A top-class striker will be a major boost to Arsenal’s squad next season if they want to challenge for the title and they could also be improved with the signing of a new 'keeper.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has now conceded that he would be powerless to prevent Petr Cech from joining Arsenal in the summer. Mourinho had previously wanted to keep Cech out of the hands of another Premier League club, but he told talkSPORT (h/t John Cross of the Daily Mirror):

"

If it’s in my hands he would never go, would never go to big clubs with fantastic teams. Big candidates to win the Premier League. I would never let him go. But it’s not in my hands. My perfect scenario is that he stays with us, I think he belongs to this club, this club belongs to his history and to his life, too.

"

At a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game against Sunderland on Wednesday, Wenger did not want to be drawn on any interest in signing Cech, per the club’s official website.

Instead, Wenger simply stated that the club are not currently in “transfer mode” after he was also asked about any interest in Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and Manchester City midfielder James Milner.

Cech’s agent Viktor Kolar, though, has revealed that the Czech Republic international would be interested in joining Arsenal this summer. According to Czech journalist Karel Haring of Sport (h/t ESPN FC), Cech would also welcome a move to Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain:

But there’s one person who believes a deal for Cech to join Arsenal has already been agreed (h/t Will Giles of the Metro):

With Wenger always reluctant to discuss his transfer targets, it is something of a guessing game as to whether he is interested in signing Lacazette or Cech.

But what is certain is that both players have proven themselves to be quality and they would be fantastic additions to the majority of squads.

If Wenger is given any encouragement to bid for either Lacazette or Cech, then he will have to move quickly due to rival interest in the players. With squad strengthening required in order to catch Chelsea next season, Lacazette and Cech are players who can help Arsenal to bridge the gap.