Lacazette set to join the Gunners
ALEXANDRE Lacazette is set to join Arsenal in the coming days for around £44m, according to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.
The France striker has been linked with a move to the Gunners for much of this summer as they seek to lift themselves into Premier League title contention.
The outspoken Aulas has previously insisted Lacazette is going nowhere this summer, but said: “The transfer of Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal could be completed in a day or two.”
Lacazette scored 37 goals in all competitions for Lyon last season, including 28 in 30 Ligue 1 games. ■■West Brom have signed Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez and have captured China striker Yuning Zhang from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for an undisclosed fee.
The Baggies have long been liked with the 27-year-old England international and Saints say they have received an undisclosed fee for Rodriguez (below left) who made 126 appearances for them after joining from Burnley in 2012.
The 20-year-old Yuning has agreed a threeyear contract with the Baggies but has immediately been sent out on a two-year loan to Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen. ■■Aaron Lennon has returned to Everton for pre-season training.
The former England winger was among the players pictured as the club posted a gallery of photographs of the squad returning to work after the summer break.
Lennon, 30, was detained under the Mental Health Act in May. A statement from the club at the time said the player was “receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness”.
Everton have not commented on the latest developments but Lennon was pictured smiling as players were assessed at the club’s Finch Farm training ground.
Lennon, a former Leeds and Tottenham player, last played for Ronald Koeman’s side in February. ■■Swansea have confirmed Ki Sung-yueng is expected to miss the start of the Premier League season through injury, though the club are closing in on the signing of another midfielder.
Ki has undergone a minor knee operation in South Korea having sustained the problem on international duty last month during the World Cup qualifier with Qatar.