Lyon confirmed January talks with Arsenal striker Lacazette

Lyon's sporting director Juninho tried to lure Alexandre Lacazette back to Lyon on a short-term loan deal.

He tells that the striker was low on confidence in January and needed a lift.

However, Juninho confesses anything other than a loan would be difficult to agree.

In a surprising twist, it turns out that Lyon tried to sign Alexandre Lacazette on a 6-month loan deal in January: their sporting director Juninho confirmed as much. The size of the Frenchman's salary made other options unrealistic though.

"That is not our level in terms of contract. In January I called Alexandre Lacazette to chat a bit with him because he was having problems at Arsenal and I said to myself: 'Why not do a loan for 6 months with us where you will enjoy yourself, play all the games and score the goals like you know how to? And then you go back to Arsenal or somewhere else,' he told RMC Sport.

"But from the moment that you start looking at the level of the contract of these players, like with Juventus and Barcelona, it is not possible for us today. Today, we have to tell the truth, we cannot pay the salary for a player like Umtiti. We have to be honest with the supporters. But if the player is looking for a project, is willing to make an effort maybe with a longer contract, wants to come home, then I will go and get him straight away."

Juninho mentions Umtiti because, well, he was asked about the possibility of signing the Frenchman. Samuel is deemed surplus at Barcelona and odds he'll move on this transfer window.

As for Lacazette, he did fall out of the XI at the end of December and remained in and out until the end of the season - although he did start both the semi-final and the final of the FA Cup.

It remains to be seen whether Laca is first-choice when the season rolls around mere 3 days from now. Eddie Nketiah looks in better shape, having returned earlier and played more minutes in pre-season. A good dilemma for Arteta to have.