Alexandre Lacazette drops Arsenal transfer hint with social media response

Alexandre Lacazette has hinted his future lies with Arsenal despite speculation tipping him to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The France striker scored 12 goals in 39 appearances for the Gunners last season but his place in Mikel Arteta’s side has been called into question at times.

Arsenal are believed to be willing to part ways with Lacazette in order to raise funds for transfers and Juventus are in pole position to secure his services.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano reports the player’s representatives have met with Juventus officials, while Spanish outlet Marca claims Atletico Madrid are also interested in the 29-year-old striker.

But Lacazette’s latest activity on social media implies he is set to stay at the Emirates – where he has two years remaining on his deal.

One fan took to Instagram to urge the former Lyon man to remain with the Gunners, writing: “One word. STAY.”

And Lacazette responded to the supporter with a winking face. The hint means Lacazette – who joined the Gunners for a then-club-record £46.5million fee in 2017 – appears likely to stay and add to his 48 goals for the club.

It remains to be seen if he will feature in Arteta’s first-choice starting XI next season, as eight of his 30 Premier League appearances last season came from the bench.

Does Lacazette fit in Arteta’s best XI next season? Have your say here.

Sign up for the brilliant new Mirror Football newsletter!

From the latest transfer news to the agenda-setting stories, get it all in your email inbox.

Put your email at the top of this article or follow the instructions on this link.

But Lacazette started each of Arsenal’s last four Premier League matches of the 2019/20 campaign and the FA Cup final last month, during which the Gunners beat London rivals Chelsea 2-1.

Meanwhile, Arsenal remain in talks with Lacazette’s fellow forward and close friend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over a new deal.

The club captain has entered the final year of his contract and is yet to agree to an extension, but Lacazette insisted Aubameyang’s decision will have no bearing on his own future.

“We know that Auba has a lot of discussion with the club but I can’t put my future in someone else,” Lacazette said last month.

“Everybody does their own thing. I used to talk with him a lot at the beginning when we came back from lockdown.

“But since we really don’t really talk. I just know he will say something to me before you in the press will know but that is it.”

Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.