Arsenal casts tons of cash on Lacazette

The base fee is $5M more than Arsenal paid Real Madrid four summers ago for Mesut Ozil. Lacazette signed a new contract with Lyon in August of 2015 that was set to expire in June of 2019.

Lyon was paying the French international striker $4.75M a year and Lacazette will now see his salary more than double at Arsenal. Arsenal benefitted from a FIFA-imposed transfer ban on Atletico Madrid. Atletico was poised to sign the Frenchman before being caught contravening regulations related to the signing of youth players.

Arsenal has set a new transfer record with the signing of 26-year-old Alexandre Lacazette from Olympique Lyon in France. Arsenal will pay $60M to Lyon with another $7.5M due should Lacazette hit a number of pre-determined targets.

The base fee is $5M more than Arsenal paid Real Madrid four summers ago for Mesut Ozil. Lacazette signed a new contract with Lyon in August of 2015 that was set to expire in June of 2019.

Lyon was paying the French international striker $4.75M a year and Lacazette will now see his salary more than double at Arsenal. Arsenal benefitted from a FIFA-imposed transfer ban on Atletico Madrid. Atletico was poised to sign the Frenchman before being caught contravening regulations related to the signing of youth players.

Alexandre Lacazette (L) celebrates with Athletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann during the friendly football match for France against Paraguay Lacazette and Griezmann might have combined at club level as well until a FIFA-imposed transfer ban. (Photo credit FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Lacazette has scored 76 goals for Lyon in his last 97 games over the last three seasons. Ironically, the move has some suggesting that Lacazette's arrival will hasten the departure from Arsenal of another French striker, Olivier Giroud.

What's more, Giroud is normally preferred by French national team manager Didier Deschamps over Lacazette. That has some critics scratching their heads and asking the question why Arsenal would pay a record fee for a player judged by some as being inferior to a player they already have.

The reason is that Giroud and Lacazette bring very different qualities to the table. Giroud is a man-mountain of a striker who offers a focal point for the attack. However, he can only play as a central striker and he lacks pace and mobility.

Much of Giroud's relative success with Arsenal has come as a substitute offering a fresh option and a physical presence later in a game.

Lacazette is quick and exceptionally sharp in the penalty box and potentially provides the most consistent goal threat for Arsenal since Robin van Persie was sold to Manchester United in the summer of 2012.

Lacazette can also play in any of the attacking positions. Two very different players and that is why we should not be surprised if Arsenal decides to keep Giroud and continue to use him as part of a plan B.

Of course, that is predicated on Giroud remaining content with a bit-part role.

One possible destination for Giroud is Everton. The Merseyside club has been extremely active in this transfer window already with five players arriving for combined fees in excess of $130M. Now, it looks as if the team will recoup some of that outlay by selling Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United for over $95M.

If the deal is consummated it will be the second biggest fee ever paid by Manchester United with last summer's world record fee for Paul Pogba besting it.

Lukaku was bought by Everton from Chelsea in 2014 for $36M after a loan spell with the club from Chelsea.

An expensive return to Chelsea seemed to be Lukaku's next move until Manchester United turned its attention from Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata.

Lukaku can expect to become one of Manchester United's top earners with a salary in excess of $15M annually. In the spring of this year, Lukaku turned down a contract offer from Everton that would have paid him $9M per year.

If Lukaku signs then Manchester United will be getting a 24-year-old proven goal scorer. Lukaku combines bulk, great mobility, and durability. He has scored 85 Premier League goals in the last five seasons while appearing in 176 matches.

Lukaku will also be playing for Jose Mourinho, the manager who deemed the Belgian ill-equipped to even be given a chance to prove himself while at Chelsea.