Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Alexandre Lacazette Rumours, Kelechi Nwakali Deal

Arsenal are not expected to return with an improved offer for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to Jonathan Johnson of the London Evening Standard.

The north Londoners reportedly had a £29.4 million bid rejected by the Ligue 1 club last week, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger expected to return with an enhanced offer for the France international.

However, per Johnson, reports in France claim Wenger is yet to reinstate their interest with Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas unlikely to accept any new advance.

Per Paul McNamara of MailOnline, Wenger remains on the lookout for an experienced striker to bolster his front-line offensive ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Following Arsenal's 2-1 victory over MLS All-Stars in a pre-season friendly, the French manager was quoted as saying:

"

At the moment I have not too many attacking options in terms of experienced players. But let's not forget we still have a few players at home.

There are also a few players who did not play (against the MLS All-Stars), like (Santi) Cazorla. And of course (Mesut) Ozil and (Aaron) Ramsey are at home. (Olivier) Giroud is also not here. So we have options but we will still look outside to find one more.

"

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol was confident the two teams were working closely to finalise a move:

However, Wenger was reticent over future transfer deals at the beginning of the month:

In addition, Theo Walcott has made a recent U-turn on his pleas to be utilised as a centre-forward, telling his boss he sees himself as a right-winger. According to Sunni Upal of the Sun, the 27-year-old, who missed out on a place in Roy Hodgson's UEFA Euro 2016 England squad due to a lack of playing time last year, was quoted as saying:

"

I want to make my position on the right—that’s where I know where I am now. I’ve told the manager that I want to be known for playing on the right again, although I can play up front.

I want to know where I want to play. The manager has said I can play up front. It depends on what game it is. I know I can do a job up front as well as on the right.

"

The decision to make the right flank his own may have been fostered by Wenger's intentions to sign a new centre-forward, with last season's runners-up also linked with a move for Inter's Argentina striker Mauro Icardi during the summer transfer window, per Ben Burrows of the Daily Mirror.

PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/Getty Images

However, Lacazette is regarded as the club's current main transfer prospect. Per WhoScored.com, the 25-year-old has scored 48 league goals in his last two seasons at the Grand Stade and would add a much-needed verve to the Gunners attack.

The prolific scorer was shown a red card in pre-season for an out-of-character tackle against Benfica, per Get France Football News:

Arsenal fans were relieved to see business being done early in the off-season with the £34 million signing of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach, but that promise has soon waned.

The club—aiming to lift the Premier League title for the first season since 2003-04—have since looked to the future with young prospect signings, including Japanese attacker Takuma Asano and 20-year-old defender Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers.

However, the club have added to that tally on Friday after announcing the signing of Nigerian starlet Kelechi Nwakali, via Mattias Karen of ESPN FC.

Arsenal confirmed the signing via their official Twitter account:

The highly rated 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium. However, the capital club have stated the player will be sent out on loan for the forthcoming campaign, per Karen. Neither a team nor destination has been announced. 

Nwakali was part of the Nigeria squad that lifted the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in 2015, being named player of the tournament in the process.