Arsenal transfer hopes fade as Lacazette and Silva slip away

(Image credit: PHILIPPE MERLE/AFP/Getty)

published 9 December 2014

With Arsenal's reputation sliding quicker than the price of oil, now comes news that their pursuit of French frontman Alexandre Lacazette has come a cropper.

The Gunners, along with Liverpool, have both been linked with a new year move for the 23-year-old, whose 14 goals in 17 league games this season have lifted Lyon to third in the table. With the French outfit looking to balance the books, rumours had been rife across the Channel that Lacazette would be sold in January. Not if the young striker has anything to with it, reports Talksport, who quote Lacazette saying: "For my part I have not expressed a desire to leave. It seems obvious to me to stay and continue with this project."Meanwhile the Daily Star has more bad news for the long-suffering Gooners with Real Madrid "hoping to seal a January deal" for Lucas Silva. Arsenal and Manchester United are known to have expressed an interest in the Brazilian under-23 international but the midfielder is edging closer to a move to the Bernabeu next month. Real have recently lost Luka Modric to injury while Sami Khedira is also sidelined. Consequently, says the Star, Real gaffer Carlo Ancelotti is zeroing in on the South American sorcerer. "It's true that we are interested in Lucas Silva," confirmed Ancelotti. "We'll have to wait for the Christmas period when everything will be clearer in terms of the recovery periods for Modric and Khedira."Elsewhere and Metro reports that Liverpool have "made Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen a key transfer target" next month. With the Liverpool defence in need of some bolstering after a difficult start to the season, Metro claims that the 27-year-old Belgium international won't be signing an extension to his current deal at the Lane and instead is on the lookout for a fresh challenge. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is apparently ready to welcome Vertonghen to Anfield after £20 million summer signing Dejan Lovren failed to live up to expectations.Finally, the Daily Express says that Manchester United "have been dealt a massive setback" in their bid to land Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin. As was widely reported last week United – who last night climbed up into third with their 2-1 win at Southampton – have been tracking the 28-year-old centre-back with a view to a January purchase in the region of £16m.