Arsenal are unlikely to extend Alexandre Lacazette's contract as they seek to get his wages off their books, football.london understands. The Frenchman's contract is due to expire this summer, but Mikel Arteta has always publicly left the door open for him to potentially stay.
“We have discussions, as you know, and at the end of the season, once we know where we are, we will make a decision altogether,” the Spaniard said. “I don’t want anyone to think about something else that is not that. The decision, we agreed, is to do it in the summer and we’re going to do it as soon as the season is finished.”
However, the Gunners are understood to be keen to shift Lacazette's salary, which is thought to be in the region of £180,000 per week. The club have overseen a recent restructuring of their wage bill, with big earners like Willian, Sead Kolasinac, David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all being moved on, while new signings like Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard have all come in on salaries relatively closer to the rest of the squad.
