Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Olivier Giroud to stay at Arsenal, Lyon to keep Alexandre Lacazette - Aulas

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas says Olivier Giroud is unlikely to leave Arsenal this summer, but is confident reported Gunners target Alexandre Lacazette will stay at the Ligue 1 club.

Giroud, 30, has been reported to be set for a move away from Arsenal after playing only a bit-part role in the 2016-17 campaign.

The France international has been linked with Lyon -- as well as West Ham -- while Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up Lacazette, 26. 

However, after bringing in Bertrand Traore from Chelsea, Lyon president Aulas is not so confident of securing the services of Giroud.

"I think that right now Olivier wants to stay at Arsenal," Aulas said at the Professional Football Convention in Cannes. "You really have to ask Arsene Wenger. If there are arrivals at Arsenal, perhaps Olivier would like to return to France.

"I have said for a long time that he's one of the players who might interest us, but not only. And as we want our recruitment to be almost completed in 15 days, it's not necessarily compatible with Oliver Giroud's wishes. We will surely have initiatives with world-class players, before perhaps the arrival of Olivier Giroud."

Aulas added to Canal Plus: "We're interested, [but] things haven't advanced.''

Lacazette, meanwhile, has been heavily linked with a move away from Lyon this summer after scoring 127 goals in 274 appearances for the club.

Atletico Madrid appeared favourites for his signature until the La Liga outfit were hit with a transfer ban, with Arsenal reportedly interested.

But Aulas told Canal Plus: "I do not think that Alexandre Lacazette will leave this summer.''

However, Aulas did suggest Lacazette could join Atletico when their transfer ban is lifted in January, adding: "It's possible.''

Traore's arrival at Lyon is expected to be followed by that of Mariano Diaz from Real Madrid as the club continue to remodel their squad, basing their strategy on young talented imports and homegrown stars.

However, one of those who falls into the latter category, Corentin Tolisso, has left for Bayern Munich, and another youth academy product, Maxime Gonalons, could follow him out of the door.

Gonalons, 28, who captained Lyon last season, has been strongly linked to Roma, who reportedly had a bid rejected for the midfielder earlier this week.

The Serie A club's interest remains intact, but Aulas says Gonalons -- like Lacazette -- may not be entirely convinced he needs to leave the seven-time French champions to further his career.

"I only know that his agent was in Rome on Monday because he told everyone," he said. "I'm not sure that Maxime wants to leave Lyon as much as his agent says.

"If there are offers, we'll look at them and we won't stand in Maxime's way if he really wants to leave, which is what his agent says. But I haven't checked that directly."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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