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Bailey Keogh

Lacazette contract decision can unlock new Arsenal era but Arteta needs transfer approval

Arsenal will potentially need two strikers in the summer transfer window, but the two forwards they sign must be top quality.

According to Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini, the Gunners are ‘strongly interested’ in signing Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners were interested in the Spanish forward towards the end of the January transfer window but were unable to get a deal over the line.

This is only a transfer that should be considered if Alexandre Lacazette was to leave the club, and Arsenal are required to sign two strikers.

Lacazette and Morata as the striker duo going into next season for Arsenal would be a disaster for the rebuild period, but if the Frenchman was to leave the Gunners, then having Morata as a backup striker would not be a terrible option.

Alvaro Morata would be an excellent backup option for Arsenal. (Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images & Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images &Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

The 30-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with no guarantee he will sign a new deal, as Lyon are also interested which the Ligue 1 side’s club president confirmed.

Speaking via Metro , Jean-Michel Aulas said: “We’ll do our best to sign Alexandre Lacazette in June. We’ve always remained in contact with him.”

However, According to French outlet L’equipe , the Gunners are willing to offer the French contract extension of up to two years, but it is unsure whether the two parties will come to an agreement, which has put a question mark over his future.

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah could both leave Arsenal this summer. (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But if he does depart from the club then Arsenal will be without a recognised striker, Nketiah’s contract is also set to expire at the end of the season, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona means that Edu would have sold three forwards within the space of six months.

This would leave Arsenal needing two strikers, and Morata would certainly be a decent option as a backup considering his playing history.

The Spaniard is highly experienced having already won the Champions League on two occasions and has already played in the Premier League with Chelsea, so there will not be a settling-in period and he can provide backup for Arsenal’s main targets such as Jonathan David or Alexander Isak, who are yet to play in the Premier League.

Edu should certainly stay away from signing Morata if he intends to make the Spaniard the main transfer target due to the inconsistency of the player, and he isn’t the greatest of finishers.

But if Lacazette does depart from the club then Morata being one of two strikers coming in, would still make sense for Arsenal considering that Atletico Madrid could be looking to sell him for a cheap price.

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