Atletico Madrid are planning a transfer for Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette in 2022 when the player will be available as a free agent. He is currently on the last year of the 5-season contract he joined Arsenal for in the summer of 2017.
Formerly of Lyon, Lacazette was signed by Arsenal for a club-record £46million and has since scored 67 goals and contributed 29 assists in 173 appearances across all competitions.
The player and his agent are in talks with Arsenal regarding a new contract, but the negotiations are not progressing in the right direction. He is also not being considered as a first-choice striker in London and has found game time rather difficult to come by under Mikel Arteta so far this season.
As a result, Lacazette could walk out of the Emirates Stadium next summer as a free agent.
Atletico Madrid were in the race for him in 2017 as well, but the transfer ban placed on them prevented the La Liga side from bidding on the striker. Arsenal took the opportunity and convinced Lyon to sell the player to them for a hefty fee.
Diego Simeone is a huge admirer of Lacazette, and the pair could finally link up next summer if the free transfer goes through. Atletico already have attacking firepower in the form of Luis Suarez, Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann, and the arrival of the Frenchman could only further cement them as strong rivals to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
