Rumour Mongering: Lacazette to Atletico, Despite Transfer Ban

Top teams need top strikers. As great as Roberto Firmino has been at filling in up top for the Reds this season and the tail end of last, he’s not a natural out-and-out, striker. Alexandre Lacazette, on the other hand, is.

The 25-year-old French international has bagged 23 goals and added 2 assists for Lyon in 24 Ligue 1 appearances, as well as 4 goals and an assist in 8 combined Champions League and Europa League appearances in this campaign.

Lacazette has been high on many Liverpool supporters’ lists, and has been a perpetual source of speculation and rumors for the last several seasons. Of course, other teams are also reportedly in for the striker. Earlier in the season, it seemed like a move to Arsenal was becoming a sure thing, but recent turmoil at the London club have appeared to diminish such rumors.

Now, reports out of Spain are claiming that Lacazette has reached a verbal agreement with Atletico Madrid. This comes despite Atletico being under a transfer ban for rules violations concerning under 18 foreign players. Although the Madrid club could sign Lacazette this summer, the striker would not be able to play for the club until January of 2018.

Atletico lost an initial appeal to FIFA over the ban, and the reports seem to indicate that the player would only be interested in coming if the ban is overturned and he can play from the start of the season.

Lyon, for their part, are demanding £35 million for the striker, which almost feels like a bargain in this market for a striker entering his prime. It is certainly a situation worth keeping an eye on, especially if Liverpool can qualify for the Champions League, at Arsenal’s expense, no less.