Arsenal transfer rumours: Alexandre Lacazette edging closer?

Image: Alexandre Lacazette returns to the top of the Football Whispers list

Which are the most credible Arsenal transfer rumours right now?

Sky Sports has teamed up with Football Whispers to bring you the hottest transfer talk of the moment, as Arsene Wenger looks to improve his squad ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

Football Whispers have developed a unique algorithm to take all of the transfer rumours from across the globe and calculate the likelihood of them happening.

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They track transfer stories and give them a score out of 5.0, with the hottest Whispers closest to 5.0.

The top three are:

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1. Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) - 4.7

Image: Lyon president reveals there is a possibility Lacazette could leave the club

As Arsenal continue their hunt for a frontman, Lyon forward Lacazette continues to be linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium and returns to the top of the Football Whispers list. 

Having reiterated on Friday that Lacazette will not be sold, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has handed the Gunners a boost in their pursuit of the Frenchman by hinting he could yet leave the club.

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But, with this transfer saga set to rumble on, could Lacazette be the man to support Olivier Giroud in Arsenal's bid for Premier League glory?

2. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) - 4.6

Wenger was in attendance on Saturday evening as Mahrez played in Leicester's 4-0 defeat to PSG in Los Angeles.

Image: Waving goodbye? Could Mahrez be on his way to the Emirates?

The Algeria international has been attracting interest from across Europe after a superb 2015/16 season with the Foxes. 

He makes a strong second-place showing in the Football Whispers charts after reports intensified that Wenger is ready to make a big-money move for the winger - although Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri has urged Mahrez to stay at the King Power.

Read our feature on whether Arsenal need Mahrez here.

3. Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia) - 4.5

Image: Is Mustafi the man to solve Arsenal's defensive dilemma?

Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi keeps his place in the top three, despite returning to training with Valencia on Monday.

It was recently revealed by Sky Germany that Arsenal are in talks to sign the 24-year-old Germany international.

Mustafi has a release clause of £42.1m but our colleagues in Germany understand Arsenal may be able to sign the German for £25.3m, plus a further £8.4m in add-ons.

Arsene Wenger revealed he was on the hunt for a defender following the news Per Mertesacker has been ruled out for 'months' with a knee injury

Hottest Arsenal Whispers - Wednesday, August 3

Player Club FW rating (out of 5)
Alexandre Lacazette Lyon 4.7
Riyad Mahrez Leicester 4.6
Shkodran Mustafi Valencia 4.5
Bruno Peres Torino 3.4
Mauro Icardi Inter Milan 3.3
Jonny Evans West Brom 1.9
Karim Benzema Real Madrid 2.5
Antoine Griezmann Atl. Madrid 2.3
Arda Turan Barcelona 2.2
Julian Draxler Wolfsburg 1.9
Joe Hart Man City 1.3
Edinson Cavani PSG 1.3
Blaise Matuidi PSG 1.1
Federico Fernandez Swansea 1.1
Mario Mandzukic Juventus 1.1
Nicholas Lombaerts Zenit 1.0
Oguzhan Ozyakup Besiktas 1.0

Don't forget to follow the most up-to-date information around the clock with the Sky Sports Transfer Centre

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