Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is set to leave the Emirates on a free transfer this summer with a move back to Lyon set to go through after five years in north London.
There has been speculation through much of the season over whether or not Lacazette would be offered a new deal by the club. Similar speculation hung over Eddie Nketiah but the Hale End graduate appears set to extend his time with the Gunners.
Lacazette was signed from Lyon in the summer of 2017 from Lyon for a fee of £47 million and has been a mainstay under Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta. In 206 appearances he racked up 71 goals but the 31-year-old is now set to return to France according to a report from L'Equipe.
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Throughout last season, Arteta remained coy over what the future held for his striker, saying in April: "His contract situation allows him to make a decision about his future. We have expressed our intention is to speak in the summer. For the rest, I just want him fully focussed on his duty which is to defend Arsenal in the best possible way."
The final months of Lacazette's Arsenal career saw him take over the captain's armband from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his fellow front-man was banished from first-team training and then sold in January after returning late from a trip to France.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers ahead of the summer transfer window with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison and Tammy Abraham all linked with moves. With Lacazette's significant wages soon to be off the books, it may allow Edu to accelerate his own plans in the market and bring in one or two new frontmen.
