Lyon (AFP) – Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said Tuesday he would allow star striker Alexandre Lacazette to leave and join “the club of his heart”, but to that club and no other.

The France striker is thought to be in advanced talks with Atletico Madrid, although the Spanish club are awaiting a Court of Arbitration (CAS) ruling to lift a transfer ban on them.

“This is not to say he will leave, but if the club of his heart can meet our terms things will go well,” said Aulas, without naming the club concerned. 

The 25-year-old Lacazette has scored 35 goals in 44 games for Lyon this season and was France’s top scorer in 2014-15 when he was also named French player of the year.

“If a certain number of our players don’t think we’re big enough then we will open the door and look for replacements of the same quality but with the right mindset as well because we’ve lacked that this year,” Aulas said.