Arsenal Transfer News: Fresh Rumours, Latest Stars Wanted by Gunners

Arsenal target Alexandre Lacazette reportedly won't be allowed to leave Lyon this summer, with the Ligue 1 club stating the desire to keep hold of their star striker.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told French television station Canal+ (h/t the club's official Twitter, via ESPN FC): "We have had a few calls, but Alexandre will stay. I think it is his desire, and the coach [Bruno Genesio] counts on him."

The statement from Aulas fits with his previous comments about keeping the squad's primary assets beyond this summer. B/R's Jonathan Johnson has relayed Aulas describing how Lyon won't sell Lacazette now:

He also broke down a report from French publication Le Parisien stating why Lyon are in a strong position financially and don't need to sell:

Umtiti's €25 million move to Barcelona has since been confirmed by the Spanish club's president Josep Bartomeu, according to BBC Sport.

Aulas' stance on Lacazette rates as a blow for Arsenal, who had been linked with the 25-year-old forward, per Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph.

A fee of £40 million was mooted, but Burt felt it was "highly unlikely" Wenger would offer so much, despite Lacazette's obvious fit for the Gunners.

Specifically, he boasts the defence-stretching pace and perceptive movement to be the striker Theo Walcott should have been last season. Wenger needs a quick centre-forward who can combine fluidly with Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi as part of a pacy front three ahead of prolific pass-master Mesut Ozil.

Only then can the Gunners play the quick, slick and creative brand of expansive football Wenger loves. It's a style of play difficult to achieve with the static Olivier Giroud at centre-forward. Walcott's inconsistency and Danny Welbeck's injury woes also mean the Gunners can struggle to adjust their attack.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

With Lacazette off the table, Wenger's arduous search for the right striker will continue.

Takuma Asano Deal Edging Closer

He may be struggling to recruit a marquee attacker, but Wenger is reportedly getting closer to landing an intriguing prospect up front. MailOnline's Sami Mokbel has detailed how "the Gunners are hopeful of concluding the switch in the coming days" for Japan international Takuma Asano.

Mokbel also described how Wenger intends to use Asano early on: "The forward, who plays for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, is viewed as one for the future by Arsene Wenger, but he will train with the first team. Asano has four caps for Japan and is viewed as one of the country's brightest prospects, but he is likely to be loaned out during his first season at Arsenal."

Kyodo News (h/t the Japan Times) previously relayed Arsenal's initial offer to Asano. While the 21-year-old is obviously not the instant upgrade Wenger needs ahead of the new season, he is still a forward with plenty of promise.

Among his notable qualities, Asano can offer "explosive acceleration and speed," as well as being a "good interpreter of space," per Stephen Crawford of Goal.com.

Signing Asano won't immediately solve Arsenal's dilemma up front. However, there is still room for an understudy or two who can develop into something special.

It's something Joel Campbell has struggled to do, while Yaya Sanogo has also failed to make the grade.

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Wenger has taken a punt on hidden talents plenty of times during his Arsenal career. Yet, as the struggles experienced by Campbell and Sanogo prove, his recent forays into the market for young strikers haven't yielded much success.

Still, the onus is on the Frenchman to keep on trying. The Gunners won't be able to maintain a season-long title challenge without a more consistent supply of goals up top.

Wenger's glory days were categorised by a lethal strike force featuring a formidable partnership of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, with Nwankwo Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord ready in reserve.

That's the level of firepower that wins titles. Wenger must step up his efforts to somehow reproduce such a high level of quality in attack.