Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette can quit the club this summer if the Gunners don’t qualify for the Champions League, according to reports in the English media.
An exit clause in the Frenchman’s contract means he would be able to leave the Emirates at the end of the season if a top 4 spot is not secured.
A number of supporters on Twitter don’t believe Lacazette’s departure would be much of a loss considering his form this campaign:
Won’t be missed
— Mikhael Dolken (@MikhaelDolken88) 26 February 2020
Qualify or not, he should be out
— Ö? (@indiangooner2) 26 February 2020
Let him go,i want martineli to take that number officially
— Davido (@Davido_Bukha) 26 February 2020
Arsenal should sell him if they qualify for CL. His current form does not match a CL side.
— sedmorteza (@mrarkadin0) 26 February 2020
Good as if he thinks he’s good enough to play in the champions league
— Rob (@afcROB9) 26 February 2020
We will qualify… And his leaving clause will still be activated?
— Mr Wole Majekodunmi (@femImmanuel_) 26 February 2020
Has he done enough to enable his team qualify for CL? It's a NO sadly.
— RÖY (@19AJR) 26 February 2020
They should bin him. If he can't help the club to get back to Champions League then they should bin him. There won't be any goodbye from me personally.
— OLALEKAN EMMANUEL (@usme205) 26 February 2020
When we get CL and still bin him in the summer pic.twitter.com/xiQXnsfo6m
— Vik (@Footyscouted) 26 February 2020
No problem, we have Eddie and martinelli. Just got to tie auba down
— princeofpersia (@mlka7) 26 February 2020
Should be sold. Nevertheless.
— arsenalmad79Reloaded (@arsenalmad37) 26 February 2020
Lacazette has since stated that he is happy to stay at the club, but did not elaborate on reports regarding the existence of the clause:
“I didn’t know about this. I have a contract with the club, so there is no point to leave – everybody is happy with me at the club.”
While Lacazette’s important to the team can be debated, he is still a top level forward when in form and it would be a blow if he did depart in the summer.
Arsenal do, however, have a couple of routes to Champions League qualification. A fifth place finish could still be enough if Manchester City’s European ban remains in place, while the Gunners do also have the chance of qualifying by winning the Europa League.