The most expensive signing in the 131-year history of Arsenal Football Club will likely to make his first public appearance for the club in Sydney with Alexandre Lacazette set to be named in the touring squad for Australia.Â
After passing the formality of a medical exam on Wednesday, the French international striker is set to complete his $89 million move from Lyon to the Gunners, setting a new club record transfer for the North Londoners.
![Plane ticket: Alexandre Lacazette will play for the Gunners in Australia.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170705233639im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/5/b/w/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx5ars.png/1499292521436.jpg)
His lucrative five-year contract is expected to be signed on Thursday, when the club will formally announce Lacazette as Arsenal's new leading striker. He will be presented with the famous red and white shirt at a press conference at their training base in Colney, London, but Fairfax Media can reveal the first glimpse fans will see of the record signing playing for Arsenal will be in Sydney.Â
It is understood Arsenal have already indicated Lacazette will be on the plane to Australia with the rest of the squad for their pre-season friendly games against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at ANZ Stadium next week. Once the deal is formally signed and concluded as expected, the club will waste no time in bringing him into the squad for their tour of Australia following friendly games in China.Â
![Record transfer: Lacazette's $89 million price tag is the highest at Arsenal.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170705233639im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/5/b/5/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gx5ars.png/1499292521436.jpg)
It means he could make his first appearance for the club as early as July 13 against the A-League champions or just two days later against the Wanderers. Lacazette has long been a target of Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger after eight years in the top flight of France, where he scored an impressive 129 goals in 275 appearances for Lyon. A hard-working, quick, mobile, skilful forward, Lacazette will likely be deployed as the sole striker in Arsenal's forward line, replacing compatriot Olivier Girourd and English international, Danny Wellbeck.Â
Lacazette's incredible transfer fee smashes Arsenal's previous record spent on Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013 by more than $17 million. The 26-year-old will become the second major signing by Wenger during the pre-season, following the arrival of Bosnian and Herzogivinan fullback, Sead Kolasinac, from Schalke.Â
However, British reports are suggesting Lacazette won't likely be the last of Arsenal's summer spending with the club still in the hunt for French star Kylian Mbappe. The 18-year-old forward is one of the most prodigal talents in world football after shooting to fame with his starring role in Monaco's Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, having scored 26 goals in all competitions. However Arsenal are locked in a tight race with PSG and Real Madrid for Mbappe and should they lose out, they will likely turn their attention to another expensive recruit in Monaco teammate Thomas Lemar.Â
While Australian fans will be buoyed by the news of Lacazette's imminent arrival in Sydney, it's understood he will not be accompanied by his new striker partner. Chilean international Alexis Sanchez will almost certainly not rejoin the club for their games in Australia and China as he has been granted a holiday after his international commitments.
Players are required to have a minimum of three weeks holidays between international tournaments during the off-season and the start of their new league seasons, meaning Sanchez's participation in the 2017 Confederations Cup ending on July 2 will rule him out of Arsenal's early pre-season.Â
German international Shkodran Mustafi is another set to miss the games in Sydney due to his participation at the Confederations Cup in Russia, however Arsenal are otherwise understood to be bringing a full-strength team for their first tour of Australia in more than 40 years.Â
Arsenal will play Sydney FC on Thursday, July 13 and Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, July 14 at ANZ Stadium. Just 2000 tickets remain for the Saturday night match against the Wanderers while about 6000 remain for the midweek match against Sydney FC.Â