It has been a summer transfer window that has seen a myriad of world-class strikers change clubs, as managers across Europe scramble in their quest for more goals.
Star strikers such as Radamel Falcao, Mario Mandzukic, Jackson Martinez, Carlos Tevez and Robin van Persie all moved clubs, while the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Edinson Cavani and Karim Benzema continue to be linked with moves to the Premier League.
It seems surprising that the top scorer in Ligue 1, Alexandre Lacazette, has not been given much of a mention with the Frenchman lighting up the top tier in France with an outstanding 2014-15 season with Olympique Lyonnais. Lacazette has been linked to Premier League clubs in the past, in particular to Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of the 24-year-old, while Liverpool and Manchester United are also reportedly interested as they search for new attacking talent.
Having started his career at Lyon as a promising winger during the 2012-13 campaign, Lacazette was thrust into a more central role in the 2014-15 season due to the departure of now-Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis. It has been a change which has transformed the Frenchman into one of the world’s most potent strikers, scoring a league-high 27 times as Lyon mounted a strong challenge to Paris Saint Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Lacazette’s tally of strikes was bettered only by the best two players in world football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, in Europe’s top five leagues last season. However, the statistic which stands out the most is the Frenchman’s conversion rate of 28.1%. The figure is significantly better than that of Ronaldo (21%) and Messi (23%).
Only four players who netted more than 10 times in Europe’s top five leagues last season topped the Lyon man’s conversion rate, while only six boasted a superior shot accuracy than his 51.4%. Lacazette has transformed his game into the type of player that every club manager would love to have. He has a real eye-catching turn of pace which can take him beyond defences as well as silky dribbling skills and is classed as a great finisher by virtue of his aforementioned shot accuracy and conversion rate. And, of course, we cannot forget his goals.
There has been some talk that Lacazette’s statistics in Ligue 1 last season are a gross exaggeration of his real quality, with the growing suspicion in some circles being that France’s top division is no longer as strong as it once was. Admittedly, there are a number of examples which support this theory. Marouane Chamakh and Emmanuel Riviere came off outstanding individual seasons at their former French clubs, Bordeaux and Monaco respectively, before they moved to the Premier League and struggled to make an impact. Lacazette, however, has shown he can score goals and contribute consistently for Lyon, still at a young age.
Lacazette has the tools to succeed at one of the biggest clubs in the world and follow in the footsteps of players such as idol Thierry Henry, Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud, players who have all impacted English football. It has been reported that Lacazette could potentially be available for around the £21 million mark, which could represent great value for a young striker entering the prime of his career.
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I’m really surprised Lacazette hasn’t already moved. He seems the perfect forward for Arsenal to rotate with Giroud. He’s said he wants to stay with Lyon for another season but I’d be surprised if he didn’t leave.
He could be the second coming of Henry… Not quite as good, but not that far away.
Good article with some interesting views – surprised no big interest in him