Jose Mourinho Reportedly Avoided Alexandre Lacazette Signing After Scout Reports
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho reportedly opted not to make a move to sign striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer after scouting reports suggested the record Arsenal recruit was lacking in "big-game mentality."
According to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson, Mourinho was also told the former Lyon forward, who moved to north London for £52.7 million, was unsuitable for the Premier League due to his physical attributes.
Lacazette moved to the Emirates Stadium with a record of 129 goals in 275 total appearances for Lyon, and this season will give some sign as to whether Mourinho was right in not chasing a deal for his signature.
However, Samuel Jay C recently pointed to United's recent £75 million signing, Romelu Lukaku, as an example to suggest there may be some hypocrisy regarding Mourinho's judgement of Lacazette:
The Red Devils were in dire need of a more experienced figure up front after a serious knee injury put an end to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's time at the club, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial left as front-line deputies.
Meanwhile, the Gunners appear to have taken a different view on Lacazette's potential as a Premier League force after Goal's Chris Wheatley confirmed his placement as the club's new point man:
The Lyon recruit will be entering a new atmosphere in England, meaning it may take time for Lacazette to adjust and live up to his billing as Arsenal's newest superstar.
United's latest mega signing Lukaku, however, has the advantage of having already played in England's top flight for much of his senior career, ending his 2016-17 campaign with 25 goals in 37 Premier League appearances.
Lacazette may well see United's assessment of him as further reason to make this a special debut in England as he hopes to prove his past suitors wrong in their judgement.
He wouldn't be the first Arsenal signing from France to impress if he does etch out a successful name for himself at the club, although the likes of Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh represent the risk in French acquisitions.
