Arsenal Transfer News: Zakaria Bakkali Targeted, Alexandre Lacazette Rumours

Latest reports suggest Arsenal have attacking reinforcements in sight this summer following news of their interest in PSV youngster Zakaria Bakkali and Lyon dynamo Alexandre Lacazette.

Bakkali is a free agent this summer and Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson) says the Gunners will challenge Liverpool and Valencia for the 19-year-old's services.

Sanderson wrote: "Because he’s set to become a free agent, Arsenal could wrap up the transfer quickly with no negotiation needed. The Gunners would have to pay training compensation, as he is under 23, but PSV would only be able to demand around £750,000."

Belgian youngster Bakkali is famed for becoming the youngest player to ever score a hat-trick in the Eredivisie, bagging three against NEC Nijmegen in August 2013—just his second Dutch league appearance.

Those remain the player's only goals in the Eredivisie, however, after Bakkali has struggled to live up to that initial potential, frozen out for the past nine months in Eindhoven, per Dutch expert John Chapman:

The low-cost nature of Bakkali's deal makes him an interesting prospect, and the signing could be influenced by whether or not Arsenal incumbent Theo Walcott pens a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

The winger's current contract runs out next summer, but after starring in the Gunners' 4-0 FA Cup triumph over Aston Villa, Walcott is quoted by the Independent's Simon Rice as being hopeful of reaching an agreement: "I am sure things will get resolved. I just want to enjoy today. I have got England coming up and then we can think about that process, but it will take time, I am sure."

Bakkali is regarded as a highly skilled winger with time on his hands to develop, but Arsene Wenger may also be cautious regarding some flaws in character that have led his lack of involvement at PSV this term.

Lyon Vying To Keep Hold Of Lacazette

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

Wenger will divert his attention to Ligue 1 once again this summer as he looks to bulk up his attack, but Lyon are not yet ready to sell the player who guided them to second in the French top flight last season.

Ligue 1 Show presenter Matt Spiro reports Les Gones are readying improved terms for their star in the hopes that he'll remain at Stade de Gerland:

Lacazette is hot property right now after scoring 27 goals and making six assists in 33 league outings last term, per WhoScored.com, precisely the kind of surgical finishing Wenger has been seeking.

Fellow France international Olivier Giroud has become a valued member of the north Londoners' attack, but injuries and fatigue have placed a huge burden on him as Arsenal's lack of depth has been exposed at times.

It's always been supposed that Champions League football figures highly in Lacazette's list of desires, and he has that with Lyon now that the club is back in Europe's premier competition.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Parisien (via Sky Sports) earlier this month, the striker gave an idea of what it would take for him to leave his current setting:

"

Everything depends on the destination. It would have to be for a Champions League club. Barcelona and Real Madrid—you don't reject them. I could stay at Lyon next season and have a terrible season, I could leave and have an incredible season.

But today, between leaving and staying, it is not 50-50—it is zero. I am not thinking about it. I am going to enjoy the national team and I will think about it after. I will go on holiday, let my agent talk and take care of all that. I won’t be disturbed. It won’t worry me at all. Once I have decided, I want everything to go quickly. If I go to a club with six centre-forwards, it's not the same as if I'm first choice.

"

Those fears over a struggle for playing time could be allayed at the Emirates Stadium as countryman Giroud stands out as his only real competition for a starting place.

However, there's no indication from Lacazette as to whether he regards the Premier League side as being on the same level as "Barcelona and Real Madrid." Goal's Robin Bairner quotes Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas as being rigid on the prospect of a sale:

Having worked alongside one another in the national team's ranks, Giroud and Lacazette could make for an enticing partnership in attack, but Wenger's current clop suggests wingers will continue to reign at Arsenal.

Lacazette started something great last season in playing a leading role in Lyon's rise back to the Champions League, and the 24-year-old may be tempted into seeing what he can accomplish there before moving on.