West Ham United are planning a club record bid of euros 30?million (pounds 23.5?million) for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. The 24-year-old France international is being considered as a marquee signing ahead of the club's move to the Olympic Stadium for the start of next season.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in January, Lacazette spoke of his desire to leave Lyon at the end of this season and said he was "thinking about the Premier League".
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is aware of Lacazette's intentions and there has been interest in him from several of Europe's biggest clubs, including Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle United, Sunderland and Stoke City also expressed strong interest in Lacazette in the January transfer window but Lacazette rejected the interest and said he was determined to see out the season with Lyon. The Frenchman also wants to play European football next season.
It appears that West Ham are emerging as the club who are in pole position should a deal be struck, and it is understood he would be receptive to the idea of joining the ambitious London club and working under Slaven Bilic.
The deal would eclipse the pounds 17.5?million paid by West Ham for Andy Carroll in 2013 and is a sign of intent from the club's owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, that they want to challenge for Champions League football.
Lyon may try to hold out for more than pounds 23.5?million for Lacazette, who has been at the club all his career and is considered their prize asset.
He had a disappointing start to this campaign, as did Lyon, but his form has picked up since the turn of the year and will consider his future after the Ligue 1 season ends on May 14.
Lacazette scored 29 goals last season to be voted Player of the Year in France and has topped the 20-goal mark again, having found the net regularly in 2016.
He has also won 10 international caps for France and still harbours the ambition to be part of their Euro 2016 squad, with Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema not involved in the French Football Federation's plans for this summer's tournament.
West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium is making them a more attractive proposition to players, as is the impressive form the team have shown under Bilic as they have challenged near the top of the table and are hoping to secure a Europa League place. Another France international, Dimitri Payet, who moved from Marseille last summer, recently admitted: "Playing in the new stadium influenced my choice to play for West Ham. The atmosphere will be great."
West Ham have a number of attacking options but are keen to add Lacazette, who can play anywhere across the forward line and is believed to be highly regarded by Bilic. Other strikers are being considered, such as Liverpool's Christian Benteke and Marseille's Michy Batshuayi, who is also of interest to Tottenham.