Lacazette rules out Liverpool move

Olympique Lyonnais forward Alexandre Lacazette has revealed he will only leave the Stade de Gerland for UEFA Champions League football.

The France international, who was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year after scoring a league best 27 goals for runners-up Lyon in 2014/15, is reportedly attracting interest from several top European clubs, including the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

However, a summer move to Anfield seems increasingly unlikely, with Lacazette insisting he will only leave Lyon for another Champions League club.

“Everything depends on the destination. It would have to be for a Champions League club. Barcelona and Real Madrid – you don’t reject them,” Lacazette told Le Parisien.

“I could stay at Lyon next season and have a terrible season, I could leave and have an incredible season.

“But today, between leaving and staying, it is not 50-50 – it is zero. I am not thinking about it. I am going to enjoy the national team and I will think about it after.”

After the upcoming international friendlies against Belgium and Albania, Lacazette plans to go on holiday and relax, leaving his agent to resolve his long-term future.

“I will go on holiday, let my agent talk and take care of all that. I won’t be disturbed. It won’t worry me at all,” added Lacazette.

“Once I have decided, I want everything to go quickly…If I go to a club with six centre-forwards, it’s not the same as if I’m first choice.”

Lacazette, whose current deal at Lyon is set to expire in the summer of 2018, scored 30 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for Les Gones in 2014/15.

Carragher: Milner could become Liverpool captain

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes James Milner will compete for the club’s captaincy if he chooses to move to Anfield this summer.

Milner, whose current deal at Manchester City will expire at the end of this month, is expected to sign a deal with the Reds in the coming days, and could subsequently compete with Jordan Henderson for the armband next term.

Liverpool are priced at 1/10 to be Milner’s next permanent club.

“Brendan Rodgers will have spoken to him about where he sees him fitting in but he’s very similar to Jordan Henderson,” Carragher wrote on Kicca.

“I have no doubt one reason he’s joining is to play in a more central role rather than out wide. Could Milner play a holding role? Maybe, but I don’t think that’s what suits him.

“His main strength is his engine which could suit him and Jordan to both play alongside a holding midfielder (Emre Can?) but his best position is tucked in from the right in a central role which is also Jordan Henderson’s so it’ll be interesting how those two fit into next year’s midfield set up.

“The fact that Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t confirm Jordan Henderson as this season’s captain even though he was captain in Gerrard’s absence last season makes me think him and Milner could be competing for the armband.

“Was that another thing that enticed Milner to join?”

Now then, if Milner were to complete a move to Liverpool, should he captain the side next season?