Alexandre Lacazette’s price tag has reportedly been revealed in the past couple of days.
After West Ham bid £31 million for the striker last week and saw it rejected, many have been pondering how much Lyon want for their main striker, and it appears we have an (potential) answer.
According to reports in France, Lyon don’t want to sell the striker, but would listen to offers of around 50 million euros, or £38.7 million.
This means that they want over 7 million more than the price West Ham originally offered. Is this too much for us to pay for one striker?
We have also been linked with Jamie Vardy, with some outlets reporting that we have activated his release clause of £25 million.
Lacazette for £38.7 million or Vardy for £25 million? Which would be better business for the Hammers this summer?
The answer would probably be neither.
I have barely seen one fan who wants Vardy at the club next summer for that price. Add that to his wage demands, which would be higher than the raise that Leicester recently gave him, and we are looking at a 29 year old striker that will cost us a fortune and is unlikely to fit the system that we play at the club.
Meanwhile, £38.7 million is an obscene figure. I can’t see West Ham stretching to that, especially after getting value in the transfer market in the past few seasons. Lacazette looks a special player, but what would happen if he did flop next season?
We aren’t Chelsea or City in the sense that we can spend this amount of money and have the player fail. It would be our biggest ever signing, smashing our transfer record. Lacazette would need at least 15-20 goals next season to justify it, meaning huge pressure on the player in a league that it often takes time to adjust to.
It is shocking that West Ham bid £31 million, and even more surprising that it was rejected. If Lacazette’s price tag is around £40 million, surely the David’s won’t fork that out on one player when we need to build the squad as well as buy a top striker this summer?
With Europa League next season, a balanced squad is integral. Hopefully we will have a transfer window to remember, not one that will backfire financially and on the field.
