Alexandre Lacazette has an ‘understanding’ with Arsenal that he will be allowed to leave this summer if the team fail to qualify for the Champions League, according to reports.
French forward Lacazette has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s team since his £46.5million move from Lyon in 2017, scoring 44 goals in 112 appearances for the Gunners.
The 28-year-old has endured an underwhelming season to date, however, and continues to be linked with a transfer exit ahead of the summer.
Lacazette will have two years left on his Arsenal contract come the end of the season and will be allowed to leave this summer if the Gunners once again miss out on the Champions League, according to The Times.
Arsenal are currently only ninth in the Premier League – seven points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea – but may be able to qualify for the Champions League by finishing fifth following Manchester City’s UEFA ban.
Mikel Arteta’s side will also qualify for next season’s Champions League if they are able to win this year’s Europa League.
Arsenal reached the final of the Europa League last season and host Olympiakos in the second leg of their last-32 tie on Thursday evening, following their 1-0 win in Greece last week.
Lacazette’s strike partner, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is also being linked with a departure from Arsenal but Arteta wants to convince the Gabon forward to stay.
‘Before I took over I had my questions about him but he has shown his commitment,’ Arteta said on Sunday.
‘I wanted him to show if he wanted to do it and do it physically. I’m so happy with him.
‘He is scoring important goals and as a captain he is giving a great example to everyone else with the way he is working defensively.’
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