Antoine Griezmann has urged Alexandre Lacazette to be patient and wait for Atletico Madrid to see out a transfer ban before deciding on his future.
The Lyon striker has admitted that he sees this summer as the ideal time to take on a new adventure after seven years as part of the first-team fold at his home-town club.
Lyon: Lacazette future has changed
He has plundered 129 goals in 275 appearances for Lyon, with a new personal best of 37 for a single campaign set in 2016-17.
Atletico were expected to snap him up when the window re-opens, allowing him to be paired with fellow France international Griezmann in the Spanish capital, but those plans have had to be shelved.
The Liga giants remain keen, though, with Griezmann telling Telefoot: "Yes it is a shame for him, because he would have come but in December, we will be knocking on the door again.”
Atletico have been stung with a transfer ban which will prevent them from bringing in any fresh faces until January 2018.
Griezmann confirms Atletico stay
Were Lacazette to favour a move to Madrid, he will have to stay put and start the 2017-18 campaign at Lyon.
He is, however, likely to have several other options to consider, with Manchester United reported to have joined long-term suitors Arsenal and Liverpool in the hunt to take the 26-year-old to the Premier League.