Paul Merson wants to see Alexandre Lacazette given a contract extension at Arsenal, amid transfer links to Newcastle United.
The Sunday People claimed yesterday (pg 54) that the Magpies are keen on the 30-year-old.
16-cap France international Lacazette is out of contract next summer.
Apparently, he is currently not looking to extend, and Gunners officials are open to a sale.
Newcastle have real problems at the back right now, having conceded 20 goals in the Premier League already.
But the squad could also do with another quality striker coming in to help Callum Wilson.
Lacazette divides opinion at Arsenal, but ex-Gunner Merson is an admirer.
He said (Daily Star): “He’s intelligent, he’s sharp, he’s lively. He gets involved. He’s not just a goalscorer he gets involved in the build-up.
“But the problem is he doesn’t do that when he starts. He wants to do the basics.
“Arteta will be pulling his hair out, one hundred percent. If you’re not playing, you’d like to think Lacazette would want to move on and get more minutes.
“But I look at it and I think that if he can come off the bench and do that on a consistent basis, you can’t let him go, because it’s priceless.”
So far this season, Lacazette has made six appearances across all competitions and scored three goals.
Lacazette would be a fine addition
Lacazette would be a really shrewd signing by Newcastle’s new owners.
He probably hasn’t set the world alight in north London since his move there in 2017.
But he has undoubtedly shown that he is a decent striker at Premier League level.
He has 51 goals in the competition, and has experience playing with a partner in attack. Perhaps he and Wilson would be good together up top.
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