Alexandre Lacazette looks set to depart Arsenal this summer.
As reported by football.london, the Gunners are more than happy to let the Frenchman, who joined from Lyon for a then-club record £46.5m fee in the 2017 summer transfer window, leave if the right offer comes in.
Lacazette was close to leaving Arsenal last summer as the likes of Atletico Madrid and Roma heavily linked, but no move materialised due to the lack of transfer funds available for either side.
The situation could change at the end of the season as with one year remaining on his contract, a deal could be reached with any interested team for a feasible price if all parties come to an agreement.
But could a return to Lyon be on the cards?
Well, judging by Lyon’s sporting director Juninho's comments from earlier in the season, it seems that a potential permanent transfer is off the cards.
The Brazilian has already ruled out the prospect of resigning the Frenchman, citing wage demands as the main reason.
"In January (2020) I called Alexandre Lacazette to chat a bit with him because he was having problems at Arsenal and I said to myself, 'Why not do a loan for six months with us where you will enjoy yourself, play all the games and score the goals like you know how to? And then you go back to Arsenal or somewhere else'," the Juninho told RMC Sport.
"But from the moment that you start looking at the level of the contract of these players, like with Juventus and Barcelona, it is not possible for us today.
"Today, we have to tell the truth, we cannot pay the salary for a player like Umtiti.
"We have to be honest with the supporters. But if the player is looking for a project, is willing to make an effort maybe with a longer contract, wants to come home, then I will go and get him straight away."
football.london understands that it remains unlikely Arsenal will offer Lacazette a new deal, but manager Mikel Arteta said in January that contract plans are to be finalised in the summer.
"We will talk in the summer and make a decision on what is going to happen," said Arteta. "We haven't talked about anything relating to his contract. I'm delighted with the way he is performing, the goals he is scoring and the form and energy he is in at the moment. He needs to keep doing that."
With that said, it seems more likely that Lacazette will depart at the end of the season as the Gunners' summer plans begin to take shape.
