Tottenham have opened talks with Lyon about the potential £30 million signing of highly rated forward Alexandre Lacazette, according to reports from the Mirror.
Lacazette has enjoyed a successful season in Ligue 1, where he scored 21 goals during the league campaign and notched another two times during Lyon’s short lived Champions League effort.
The impressive record follows the Frenchman’s even more impressive 2014/15 season, where he netted a total of 31 times in all competitions, and finished the top scorer in the division with 27 goals.
Form like that will of course turn heads, and the France international – who has spent his whole career at current club Lyon – is set to depart the Parc Olympique Lyonnais this summer amidst interest from West Ham, PSG and the favourite to secure his services – Tottenham.
While Spurs are reportedly eyeing up a fee in the region of £25 million, Lyon may hold for a bid of circa £30 million so that they can get the best value for money for their star striker.
If Tottenham are able to fork out to extra cash, here are FIVE reasons why our landlord in the Transfer Tavern thinks Lacazette could be the perfect man for the Lilywhites. Do you agree?
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE REASONS!
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Striking Support
Perhaps one of Tottenham’s downfalls in the latter part of last season was their lack of strength in depth, both in midfield and up-front.
Besides Harry Kane, only Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen provided over 5 league goals, so it is evident that a quality back up striker is needed.
That may not sit well with Lacazette who has been Lyon’s main man over the past seasons so Pochettino could utilise him instead to become …..
Kane’s Partner
That’s right, Kane’s new strike partner. While the Englishman has been used to playing the majority of his time in a spurs shirt up top alone, it could be that one of the midfielders have to make way to accommodate for the Lyon hitman.
Leicester City proved how effective playing two up front can be this season, as did Watford who enjoyed a relatively successful season for a newly promoted club with Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo causing Premier League defences all sorts of trouble.
Proven Record
Lacazette can score goals, there is no doubt about it. While it may have taken time for him to flourish at Lyon, his consistency over the past 3 years has been remarkable, having notched 22, 31 and 23 times in all competitions respectively.
The Frenchman certainly isn’t a one season wonder and has proven he is capable of scoring goals regularly.
Versatility
Not only can the Frenchman play through the middle, Lacazette is also more than comfortable to move out to either wing or even drop in to the number 10 position when needed.
The Lyon striker will undoubtedly be used primarily as a striker at White Hart Lane if he makes the switch this summer, however being able to play anywhere across to front line will add much needed depth to Tottenham’s front line.
Technical Ability
Described by a French Journalist in The People Person as “a complete player and perhaps the closest thing to Thierry Henry that we will see emerging from France for some time.’, it is Lacazette’s all round game that has attracted so much attention, not just his impressive goal scoring record.
With dazzling pace, an eye for a pass as well as a fantastic first touch, the Frenchman is a well rounded forward and most definitely not a one-trick pony.
