Chelsea look at Loic Remy and Alexandre Lacazette part-ex deal
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Lyon leading marksman Alexandre Lacazette has emerged as a target for Premier League champions-elect Chelsea, and they are reportedly prepared to offer Kids academy product Loic Remy in part-exchange to land him.
On a weekend when Jose Mourinho’s men can clinch the title, tabloid gossip columns say the Blues hierarchy are readying Remy, 28, for a return to his native France and will also pay Ligue 1 joint-leaders Lyon a further £15 to take 30-goal top scorer Lacazette to Stamford Bridge.
It has been a magnificent campaign for Lacazette, who will turn 24 this month and eclipsed his previous best seasonal tally of 22 some time ago. The Kids are no longer French football’s financial megapower, with PSG taking over that tag from them for this decade, but Lyon are hanging in there with Laurent Blanc’s boys at the top to the table.
Chelsea are understandably keen to recruit a genuine attacking alternative to their own main frontman Diego Costa, who has struggled with a troublesome hamstring issue this spring. Remy and Blues legend Didier Drogba, now a veteran at 37, have acted as back-up the Brazilian-born Spain striker this season, but neither have had a look-in when Costa is fully fit.
All of Costa’s 19 goals this term have come in the Premier League, while Lacazette has netted 26 in Ligue 1, with only eternal Ballon d’Or and El Clasico rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring more in a top European division.
Remy never scored a senior goal in 14 appearances for Lyon but, based on subsequent spells at Nice and Marseille plus impressive form on loan at Newcastle United last term, he would soon put that right if he went back for a second spell.
Since returning to the Bridge, Mourinho has offloaded several strikers in Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o, Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres.
There is also a decision to make about the future of England Under-21 forward Patrick Bamford, who has won the Championship Player of the Year award on loan at 2/1 play-off chances Middlebsrough this term, with several Premier League teams apparently interested in taking him for next season.
