Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexandre Lacazette and Jonny Evans Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will reportedly turn to Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette in a bid to strengthen his attacking options for the 2015-16 season.

According to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro), the Gunners are “closing in” on the forward, who has also previously been linked with moves to Manchester United and Liverpool. The piece also claims that Lyon, who enjoyed a marvellous Ligue 1 campaign in 2014-15, are “happy to sell.”

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Lacazette was the standout player in the French top flight last season. Here’s a look at some of his finest moments from a brilliant campaign:

With Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck currently the Gunners’ main forward options, Wenger has some decent talent to call upon. But Lacazette would bring a completely different dimension to the point of the Arsenal attack.

Indeed, he is a vibrant striker. Not only does he possess the technical ability to drop off the front and link up with the midfield, but his searing pace stretches opposition defences, while his finishing, which was once erratic, is now refined and composed.

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As we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, when Lacazette gets into good positions, he’s a ruthless taker of chances:

It’d be strange if Lyon were happy to sell, though. After all, the forward helped fire the illustrious French side back into the Champions League and although Hubert Fournier has fashioned a bright young team at the Stade de Gerland, Lacazette is the crown jewel of the setup. Subsequently, losing him would be a major blow for Lyon

Even the staunchest Lyon supporters will admit that it’s unlikely Lacazette will have a long-term future with the club with European juggernauts loitering with intent. For Arsenal, the 24-year-old would be a magnificent acquisition, but it’s going to be tough to prise him away from the Ligue 1 side in this window.

Arsenal After Jonny Evans

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Another facet of the Arsenal squad that could do with some reinforcement is in central defence and Wenger could reportedly move for Manchester United’s out-of-favour Jonny Evans in a bid to add some steel to this area.

That’s according to Laure James of the Sunday Mirror, who wrote that the Gunners are ready to rival West Bromwich Albion in pursuit of the Northern Ireland international. The piece claims the United man is valued at around the £10 million mark; a fee that is proving a problem for the Baggies.

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Here’s a look at how Evans compared to United’s other centre-back options last season, per Squawka Football:

Evans may not be a glamorous name, but he could definitely do a job for Arsenal. Although he would find it difficult to oust Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker from the heart of defence, the United man reads the game well, is brilliant in the air and knows exactly what’s required to thrive in the Premier League.

However, as we can see here courtesy of 101 Great Goals, it’s not a move that’s been greeted favourably by the Arsenal fans:

A club like West Brom would surely be the best move for Evans at this point in his career. While the prospect of joining a team like Arsenal may be alluring, the defender would struggle for minutes, finding himself in a similar predicament to the one he is currently in at Old Trafford.

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As a back-up defender, he would be a decent option for the Gunners. But with the player likely to be keen on first-team football and a reported fee of £10 million, this one seems a non-starter.