Chelsea Transfer News: Alexandre Lacazette Feels 'Hurt,' Yacine Brahimi Rumours

Chelsea's hopes of landing Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette have been buoyed after the striker revealed all is not well at his boyhood club, while Porto's Yacine Brahimi is understood to be on the club's radar.

Lacazette's alleged discontent comes in relation to the June announcement from Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas that he was set to pen a one-year contract extension with the club, which he signed in August.

The new deal keeps Lacazette contracted to the Ligue 1 giants until the summer of 2019, but the forward told French newspaper L'Equipe he was disappointed with how the news was revealed, per the Daily Mail's Luke Augustus:

"

It hurt. I think that is a justified word to use. When you are a youngster at the club, in the town, and you have never really behaved in a nasty way to anyone, to be treated like that, yes, it hurts. I had had my best ever season, I really helped the team to reach the Champions League again.

Yes, it is his (Aulas') attitude. When he talks, a lot of fans listen. And when he retells things, seen from his point of view, it makes you think that the player is in the wrong. Yes his behaviour hurt and disappointed me.

"

Aulas also went on to divulge that the £3.1 million annual contract would make Lacazette Lyon's best-paid player, a high honour after seeing the player rise through the academy of his hometown outfit.

The announcement came just after Lacazette finished as Ligue 1's top scorer in 2014-15, scoring 27 league goals in total and, as Augustus mentioned, led to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal raising an interest in him.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

However, one could also see that Aulas' decision to publicly display the details of the contract offer would work to pressure the forward into signing the new deal rather than capitalise on any outside interest.

This season has seen Lacazette manage just one goal in six Ligue 1 appearances thus far, but the striker went on to hint back problems may be partly to blame for that form, per Goal's Robin Bairner:

Despite his slump, Lacazette may yet be considered a target for misfiring Chelsea in 2016, especially with manager Jose Mourinho's current squad disappointing so severely this term.

Meanwhile, Porto star Brahimi could be the next star to emerge from the Estadio do Dragao and make a move to one of Europe's top clubs following word the Blues are interested in snapping up the forward.

That's according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb (via Metro's Will Giles), with Chelsea set to take on Porto in the Champions League this week, although Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell says Brahimi may not be involved:

The Algeria international has been one of the Dragons' key players since moving to Portugal for a fee of just under £5 million last summer, scoring 13 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions last season.

Brahimi was particularly potent in the Champions League last term, and OptaCan illustrated just how big a threat he can be in front of goal, whether it's directly or through creating chances for his team-mates:

Giles' report also mentions that Brahimi's deal comes complete with a £44.1 million buyout clause, and while Chelsea may not be willing to pay that fee, it means Porto stand to make a big profit on their investment.

That would work in Chelsea's favour, although it could be a concern the player would be cup-tied for the Champions League.

Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press

Mourinho already brought in a considerable playmaking talent in the shape of Pedro this past summer, while it's difficult to envision Eden Hazard dropping out of a team, with Willian and Oscar also fighting for their places.

A lot will depend on whether we see Chelsea revive their standards in the weeks and months to come, lest Mourinho find himself in the mood to execute an expensive remodelling process come January.