Lacazette can join Paris Saint-Germain, says Lyon president

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed he would not block star striker Alexandre Lacazette from joining Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain but insists the price would have to be right for a deal to happen.

Lacazette is free to leave his boyhood club this summer but his future remains uncertain after a proposed move to Atletico Madrid collapsed at the start of the month when the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] upheld the Spanish side's FIFA-imposed transfer ban.

Arsenal are the new favourites to sign the 26-year-old but Arsene Wenger’s side have been told they will need to match Lyon’s £60m valuation in order to secure Lacazette’s services this summer and Aulas has sensationally told PSG they can have their star man for the same price.

“I know Nasser [Al-Khelaifi, president of PSG] suggested to Noel Le Graet [president of the French Football Federation] that he is not investing that much in French players because he thought other presidents of French clubs looked badly upon it,” Aulas told France Football.

“I want him to know that if he makes an offer for Alexandre at least equal to that of the other clubs bidding for him, then Alex can go to Paris without problem.

“I am a businessman and a modern club president. Transfer money must be reinvested into French football, as I always did when we were at the peak of our powers. When transfer money is shared abroad, it strengthens our competitors instead.”

New PSG sporting director Antero Henrique is keen to sign a new striker to provide competition for Edinson Cavani ahead of next season but the Ligue 1 giants have been heavily linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Torino striker Andrea Belotti.

Only Cavani (35) scored more goals in Ligue 1 last season than Lacazette (28), who enjoyed his best ever league campaign in front of goal.

For more stats on Alexandre Lacazette, click here to visit his WhoScored player page