Arsene Wenger is set for showdown talks with Olivier Giroud over his future as Arsenal seek to complete a club-record deal for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette.
The Gunners have a made a £44million offer but Lyon are leveraging ongoing interest from Atletico Madrid to raise their asking price to around £57m.
Lacazette was expected to move to Atletico this summer but Fifa upheld a transfer ban against the Spanish club, meaning they cannot sign players until January.
Lyon have indicated they are prepared to wait to sell Lacazette but Wenger is keen to complete a deal before Arsenal begun their pre-season tour to Australia - their first game takes place in Sydney on July 13.
Standard Sport revealed earlier this month that the Gunners have discussed using Giroud as a makeweight in any deal for Lacazette or Monaco teenager Kylian Mbappe.
And that has become a distinct possibility with Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas confirming the club have an interest in signing Giroud as a replacement should Lacazette depart.
Giroud is ahead of Lacazette in the pecking order for France and believes he could win the same battle at club level, but is seeking clarification over his position having become unsettled as Arsenal continue to pursue a big-money deal for a centre-forward.
West Ham hold an interest in Giroud, but his £20m valuation would be useful for Arsenal in bridging the gap with Lyon over Lacazette. Giroud wants to guarantee first-team football in a World Cup year and the chance to play in his home country may appeal to the 30-year-old.
"There’s been an approach at some point for Giroud," Aulas told L’Equipe. "He is a boy we like, who scores lots of goals and who has a lot of ambition for Russia."
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On Lacazette, Aulas added: "Everyone knows Atletico Madrid were going to pay €53m plus a €12m bonus (£57m). That is the price for a player who scored 25 to 30 goals every year."
