Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger beat Atletico Madrid to the signing of Alexandre Lacazette after a 'secret meeting' with the former Lyon star.
The Sun says the secret meeting was held last month while Lacazette was on France duty.
Lacazette, 26, was set to join Atletico Madrid to team up with his old pal Antoine Griezmann but Wenger swiftly took advantage of a Fifa transfer embargo on the Spanish club that stops them signing players until January.
And it was the Gunners manager's comprehensive knowledge of Lacazette's career that convinced the striker that moving to Arsenal in a £52 million deal was his best move.
A source close to Lacazette revealed: “His move to Atletico was a done deal. It was the club where he wanted to go but the transfer embargo situation meant he couldn't.
“He wouldn't have been able to play there until January and, in a season that ends with the World Cup in Russia, there was no way Alexandre could afford to not be at the highest level for half a season.
“So Wenger struck quickly and raced over to Paris to meet him."