Juventus could be in the market for a new striker in the summer 2021 transfer window. Ideally, they will be able to keep Alvaro Morata on loan for one more season and add a young star at a reasonable price, such as Genoa’s Gianluca Scamacca or Eldor Shomurodov, or an experienced Serie A veteran who won’t cause the club to break the bank.
But since Morata’s future is not 100 percent secure due to Atletico Madrid’s control over the situation as the parent club (Juve are highly unlikely to pay the 45 million euros to make his deal permanent), we must consider alternatives.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette could be one of those alternatives. He was linked to Juventus in the last summer transfer window, and now Juve are one of the teams currently on Arsenal’s list of buyers. Interestingly enough, Atleti themselves, as well as Serie A rivals Roma, are on that shortlist as well.
Lacazette is a well-known name. The former Lyon man scored more than 20 goals in three straight Ligue 1 seasons, and he’s been a success in the Premier League, too, with double-digit goals in each of his four seasons in North London.
Juventus may not have space for Alexandre Lacazette’s wages
Nearing the end of the prime of his career at the age of 29, Lacazette could be a good fit for Serie A, where strikers usually last quite a number of years. And although Lacazette only has two assists this season, he had eight of them in the 2018-2019 season. Conceivably, with Cristiano Ronaldo next to him, Lacazette’s assist numbers would rise, much like Morata’s have in the 2020-2021 season.
The key with Lacazette is the cost. How much money are Arsenal looking for? Transfermarkt lists Lacazette’s value at 35 million euros, but he honestly hasn’t been worth that much money in either 2020 or 2021. Arsenal would almost certainly have to accept significantly less, considering his age and wages.
And the wages are the real concern with Lacazette. Juventus already have a lot of contracts they need to consider getting rid of, such as Aaron Ramsey’s and Alex Sandro’s. Adrien Rabiot is another player who isn’t quite meeting expectations in comparison to the cost of his wages.
Lacazette is a good player. He is no longer great, as the numbers show. Conceivably, a move from Arsenal to Juventus would benefit Lacazette, as, despite Juve’s struggles this season, it is an upgrade. And Serie A should fit his silky skill-set better.
So Juventini should not dismiss the idea of Lacazette completely. But really, he only becomes a useful transfer target if the team cannot keep Morata and if the price is right. Since keeping Morata is preferable and there are likely younger and/or cheaper options for Juve, consider Lacazette a “we’ll think about it…” kind of target rather than a concrete “wish”.