Transfer News: Arsenal and Liverpool could have signed Lemar if Man City had landed Mbappe

Arsenal and Liverpool both tried to sign Lemar during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool had two bids rejected for the France international, with Jurgen Klopp settling for the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain instead.

Arsenal, meanwhile, had an offer of £92m accepted by Monaco but failed to convince the player to move to north London.

However, Spanish outlet Don Balon says that, had Mbappe signed for Manchester City, then Lemar could have headed to the Premier League.

The two players supposedly made a pact as speculation over Mbappe’s next destination rumbled on.

They said they wanted the chance to go up against each other within the same league.

That was why Lemar ended up snubbing offers from La Liga as well - because the French duo wanted to pit their wits against each other in France.

Consequently, Mbappe’s decision to join PSG saw Lemar stay put.

But it could have been a completely different story had the 18-year-old opted to join Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Yet, speaking today, he revealed why he chose PSG over the likes of City and Real Madrid.

"Great players make history in their own country," he told Telefoot. 

"If I had left France after six months I would have left as an eternal hope.

"When you come to Paris you are at a club that has the ambition to be the best in the world, you have come to a club that wants to play in all the competitions. 

"I'm going to give everything I have got to make history with PSG.

"Playing with Neymar is something extraordinary. PSG already interested me, but having Neymar is an additional boost."