Arsenal 'desperate to sell Alexandre Lacazette this summer'

Arsenal are reportedly "desperate to sell" Alexandre Lacazette during this summer's transfer window, as the Gunners look to raise funds to bring new players to the club.

The 30-year-old has scored 65 goals in 170 appearances for Arsenal since arriving from Lyon in July 2017, including 17 in 43 outings in all competitions during the 2020-21 campaign.

Lacazette's contract at the Emirates Stadium is due to expire next June, though, and according to transfer expert Ian McGarry, Mikel Arteta's side are determined to move the Frenchman on in the current market.

"Arsenal are desperately, desperately, and as we said aggressively, marketing some of their higher-paid players in order to put money back into the budget with regards to how the club moves forward," McGarry said on the Transfer Window Podcast.

"Alexandre Lacazette is one of the players they are desperate to sell. In doing so they would get a transfer fee, they don't mind if the fee was obviously less than what they paid for the player.

"Because his contract is so expensive, they would happily accept a lower fee in order to get him off the wage bill, and in doing so make room for younger players who Mikel Arteta has identified as the future of Arsenal, rather than the present or the past. So Arsenal very much in a position where they need to sell before they can buy."

Lacazette, who started 22 Premier League matches during the 2020-21 campaign, is thought to be of interest to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.