Alexandre Lacazette is poised to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal to wrap up his £44million switch.

The Lyon striker has had his heart set on the record-breaking move since rejecting West Ham twelve months ago, and saw a move to Atletico Madrid fall through earlier this summer.

Everton and West Ham will now make £20million moves to land Olivier Giroud, the player most at risk from his France team-mate's arrival in World Cup year.

Lyon president, Jean Michel Aulas, has confirmed the deal will be complete in the next “one to two days”.

Prolific Lacazette bagged 37 goals in all competitions last term (
Image:
AFP)

Aulas said: “To be close to £44million is something unique, and will be without a doubt a record for Arsenal and a record for Lyon absolutely.

“One must also take into account that traditionally, a club like Arsenal, and it is the case for Bayern as well, do not have the habit of spending so much for one player.”

“We will without a doubt hit a record, it is not a small transfer, £44million for a player who was produced by our club.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been confident for some time of completing the move that will surpass - exclusive of bonuses - the £42.5million spent to land Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013.

Lacazette scored 28 times in Ligue 1 last season - only Edinson Cavani managed more with 35. Lacazette has also netted 100 league goals in 203 appearances in the French top flight for Lyon.

Now he's set to become the Gunners' record signing (
Image:
AFP)

Since breaking into their first team during the 2009-10 season he has racked up a total of 129 goals in 275 games in all competitions.

He is now set to become Arsenal’s second signing of this summer, after left-back Sead Kolasinac joined from Schalke on a free transfer.

Meanwhile Wenger has been given hope that he could conclude an even bigger coup in the shape of Monaco rising star Kylian Mbappe.

The Gunners would probably have to treble their record-breaking outlay on Lacazette to beat Real Madrid to the 18-year-old.

France starlet Mbappe, in action against England in June (
Image:
Getty Images)

Wenger, however, remains interested and was given encouragement by Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim who has claimed he could struggle to hold on to Mbappe and team-mate Thomas Lemar beyond this summer.

“I hope to keep the right players,” said Jardim. “It is not just me, all the coaches of the world [would] like to keep the best players.

Mbappe enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough season with Monaco (
Image:
REUTERS)

“But with the Monaco project, maybe it’s not possible to always keep the best. We’re going to look at what’s going to happen.

“Three players left. Other players could leave us. Everyone knows our project. It did not change even if we have won the title. The project is the same. The goal is still to win. Nothing changed.”

Asked specifically about Mbappe, he added: “I have not spoken to him, because he knows how we work, that we want to keep him. I think the club and he will make the best decision.”

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