Reported Crystal Palace target Alexandre Lacazette would be a 'great acquisition for many clubs', Noel Whelan has told Football Insider.
The lowdown
90Min reported last week that Palace were among the clubs interested in Lacazette, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
As it stands, neither the club nor the player are particularly keen on extending that deal.
Lacazette is thought to be open to the idea of remaining in London, with West Ham also keen.
The Frenchman has scored 67 goals and provided 29 assists in 173 appearances for Arsenal.
He does, however, earn in excess of £180,000 per week at The Emirates, a full £50,000 more than Palace's highest earner at present - Wilfried Zaha.
The latest
Whelan says that Lacazette can be a devastating no. 9 and believes he still has plenty to offer at the top level.
"Very deadly inside the box if you give him the right service," the ex-Leeds United forward said. "He's also one of these players who can go on a run and score four or five games on the bounce.
"He knows where the net is, no doubt about that. I think he’d be a great acquisition for many clubs. Still only 30, plenty of football in him."
The verdict
Lacazette is indeed a pretty reliable goalscorer but even though he'd ostensibly be available on a free transfer, this deal doesn't make a great deal of sense from Palace's point of view.
Assuming he doesn't agree to an enormous pay cut, his wages would be a huge financial commitment for the Eagles, and it's hard to imagine the likes of Zaha would be too happy about an ageing player arriving to top the salary charts.
On top of that, they've only just signed Odsonne Edouard, who has the potential to be a dependable no. 9 for them for the best part of a decade given his age and impressive form so far.
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