According to reports from Daily Express, Liverpool are confident of winning the race for £50m French international Alexandre Lacazette amidst competition from Manchester United and Arsenal.

The 26-year-old is widely expected to leave Lyon after having been with the club throughout his professional career. He has been linked with a move to the Premier League for several seasons, but none of the interested parties have come up with a concrete offer. Lacazette, though, continues to increase his performances and goal records year after year.

The striker now comes after having scored 37 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions. These are impressive statistics and one that places him firmly in the limelight. It was reported as per Cadena Cope (in Spanish) that Lacazette was close to a move to Atletico Madrid until the Spanish club received a transfer ban which now prevents them from signing players this summer. The £50 million rated striker has been made as one of the primary transfer targets for Arsenal, but the Gunners are yet to come in with a concrete offer.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to steal the transfer from the Gunners (Daily Express). He is aware of the club’s requirement for a centre-forward, especially with several concerns surrounding the presence of Daniel Sturridge in the squad next season.

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that he wants Lacazette to stay at the club, despite transfer interest from top clubs across European football. The French outfit are aware that retaining him in the summer will be extremely difficult, as they have just missed out on the Champions League football. He was quoted by the Independent as saying:

“We will have to meet with Alex again. We will have to see what will happen in the future, but today the decision to let Alexandre go is now under scrutiny.”

Lyon finished 11 points behind Nice, who could only manage a third place finish and require qualifiers in order to reach the group stages of the Champions League. Even last summer, there were a lot of transfer rumours linking Lacazette with a move away. Yet, qualification to this top European competition helped the French outfit retain the player. This time around, they know that it will be difficult with only the Europa League on offer.

Liverpool are expected to make a concrete offer for the player in the coming weeks.