Arsenal round-up: Frenchman set to sign; record bid for teenager; Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to leave

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Alexandre Lacazette is closing in on a transfer to Arsenal, as the Gunners ramp up their recruitment drive. The Telegraph report that the Frenchman will travel to London imminently and join the North London side in a club record £52 million move. Arsene Wenger has agreed to pay an initial £46 million, which could rise to £52 million with add-ons. This will beat their previous biggest spend of £42.5 million on Mesut Ozil. Personal teams are expected to be a formality and a deal could be confirmed in the next few days.

This is a significant breakthrough to Arsenal and one that will improve the mood around the club. June was a slow month for the Gunners and supporters were beginning to grow restless at the lack of activity. Lacazette is regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe and he will offer a significant upgrade on the current attacking options. Transfers often have a domino effect and if other targets begin to believe that the Gunners are showing ambition, more good news could follow.

The Mirror report that Arsenal are set to launch a sensational £125 million world record bid for Kylian Mbappe. The teenager has been heavily linked for a number of months and Arsene Wenger is refusing to give up hope of signing him. The Gunners’ boss has spoken to the forward’s father and has promised him that his son would get lots of game time at the Emirates Stadium. However, the report goes on to state that the Lacazette deal is far from done.

It is difficult to believe that Arsenal would release the funds to sign two strikers this summer. Although Mbappe is a huge talent, it would be difficult to fit him into the same team as Lacazette. Despite this report suggesting that the deal for Lacazette isn’t completed, the story posted by the Telegraph discussed above is more recent and it does appear that the Lyon striker will be joining the Gunners. If he does, then a move for Mbappe is no longer a priority. It is difficult to see the Monaco striker moving to North London this summer.

Finally, Arsenal are facing a difficult battle to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the club. The Liverpool Echo report that the England international has turned down the Gunners’ latest contract offer and that the player has no interest in a renewal. He is prepared to sit out the final year of his contract before leaving on a free transfer next summer. It is thought that the midfielder is keen on a move to Liverpool, but the Reds’ first approach was turned down.

This is a worrying report, but the source is questionable. It is odd that the news is coming out of a Liverpool local newspaper, rather than one connected to Arsenal. Agents do use the media to push their agenda, but nevertheless, this needs to be treated with caution. Arsenal are now showing ambition in the transfer market and things change quickly in football. It could be that Oxlade-Chamberlain changes his mind if the Gunners begin to progress as a team.

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