Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Alexandre Lacazette and Jorginho
Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has reportedly agreed to move to Arsenal, with the transfer said to be on the brink of being completed.
According to L'Equipe (viaย Get French Football News), the striker has struck terms with the Gunners ahead of the switch.
Get French Football News went on to provide more information about one of the most exciting purchases of the window:
As well as L'Equipe, Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph also suggested Arsenal will get this one over the line imminently:
It's a signing that'll excite the Emirates Stadium faithful, as the club have been itching for a superstar acquisition in recent seasons. Lacazette, who has been among European football's best strikers in recent seasons, is the kind of player with the potential to push the Gunners on to the next level.
The 26-year-old was always rated highly in his youth and made his senior debut for Lyon in 2010. While it took him a while to find a position in the side, as of late he's been sensational for the Ligue 1 team, scorching his way around pitches in the French top flight.
Aside from his powerful running, tight dribbling and neat interplay, Lacazette has proved to be insatiable in his pursuit of goals.
Per OptaJean, no player has been as consistent as the Lyon man in France over the past three seasons:
Of course, the Premier League will be a different challenge altogether for Lacazette. Space will be at a premium, as teams are more than happy to sit deep and stifle. As a glamorous new acquisition, he'll be the target of some heavy challenges, too, you'd suspect.
It feels like the right time for the France international to embark on a new adventure, though. While Arsenal may not be in the UEFA Champions League next season, domestically Lacazette has the edge needed in front of goal to ensure the Gunners are in the Premier League title picture.
Arsenal's Jorginho Approach Turned Down
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), Napoli have turned down a ยฃ15 million approach from Arsenal for their pass master Jorginho.
In the piece, it's added that while the Italy international isn't necessarily guaranteed a first-team place at the San Paolo, the Partenopei rebuffed the approach and have advised the Premier League side Jorginho is going nowhere.
The 25-year-old joined Napoli from Hellas Verona in 2014 and has made steady progress with the club since.ย
The Brazilian-born midfielder is renowned for his ability to control matches from the base of midfield. As noted by Squawka Football, his willingness to get on the ball in the middle third is unbending:
"Jorginho completed 100+ passes in nine Serie A games for Napoli during 2016/17. ๏
โ Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 27, 2017"
His highest total was 179 vs. Cagliari. ๏ณ pic.twitter.com/RxW6t6SDsa
Competition is fierce in the middle of the Napoli midfield, though. As well as club captain Marek Hamsik and enforcer Allan, Piotr Zielinski and Amadou Diawara both impressed in Maurizio Sarri's side last season.
It meant that for all his playmaking skill, Jorginho was rotated regularly last season, making 27 starts. Subsequently, any offer from Arsenal would potentially be tempting for the player.
With Santi Cazorla increasingly prone to injuries, manager Arsene Wenger would love another player in his squad who can manage a game from central midfield with grace and purpose. Jorginho is a man who has shown in Italian football he can tick those boxes.
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