Lacazette 'ready to run down Arsenal contract with Atletico Madrid preparing free transfer for striker'

ATLETICO MADRID are keeping tabs on Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette who is set to run down his contract, reports suggest.

Lacazette's deal with the Gunners expires next year in June and negotiations with the club's hierarchy are not moving towards the right direction.

According to Le 10 Sport, Atletico are ready to pounce on the opportunity to sign the striker next summer on a free transfer ahead of his likely departure from the Emirates.

Atleti have been closely monitoring the France international ever since he played for Lyon.

The Spanish champions are still interested in the 30-year-old and appear as a likely destination after he leaves the north Londoners.

The Madrid giants are still in touch with the Frenchman's representatives and are even preparing the ground for his potential arrival.

Atletico came just a whisker away from signing Lacazette in 2017 before the centre-forward put pen to paper with Arsenal.

The forward agreed to join Diego Simeone's side but the move never materialised as the LaLiga giants were struggling with transfer restrictions at the time.

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FIFA had banned the LaLiga outfit from signing players after they were found guilty of breaking international transfer rules for Under-16s.

And thus, Lacazette joined Arsenal in the same year for a then club record £46.5million.

He has since registered a total of 67 goals and 29 assists in 173 appearances across all competitions.

But the ex-Lyon star has only managed three matches this season and his future at the Emirates appears to be uncertain.

However, manager Mikel Arteta insists he is not keen on letting Lacazette go.

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