Thomas Lemar has been linked with Arsenal for much of the summer (Picture: Getty)

Monaco are reportedly ready to make a £45million bid to seal the transfer of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and could use the Gunners’ interest in Thomas Lemar in negotiations.

The Ligue 1 giants are keen to strengthen their squad after a host of big-name departures this summer, with Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy joining Manchester City and Tiemoue Bakayoko moving to Chelsea.

Kylian Mbappe could also leave a gaping hole up front for Leonardo Jardim’s side, who are preparing to enter the running for Sanchez in a bid to replace their top talent.

The Chile international is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium and looks unlikely to sign a new deal, with Arsenal risking losing him on a free at the end of next season.

Monaco may have handed Arsenal a lifeline with regards to Lemar (Picture: Getty)

Monaco, however, could hand the north Londoners a double lifeline by offering £45m for Sanchez and possibly softening their stance on Lemar as part of the deal, according to The Sun.

The report states that the French champions could use Arsenal’s interest in the 21-year-old winger to persuade them to back down on keeping hold of Sanchez, suggesting there may be some chance of an exchange.

Arsenal have already signed Alexandre Lacazette up front in a club-record deal this summer, but the addition of Lemar alongside him could certainly give Arsene Wenger the required firepower to replace his top scorer from last season.

Arsene Wenger has insisted he won’t sell Alexis Sanchez (Picture: Getty)
Sanchez, however, is now thought to be a target for Monaco (Picture: Getty)

It has previously been claimed that Monaco could ask for as much as £80m for Lemar, though Arsenal have also been rumoured as setting a similar asking price for Sanchez, though it’s unclear if that was for Premier League clubs only.

Manchester City have been the 28-year-old’s main suitors for much of the summer, and Wenger would surely welcome the opportunity to sell him abroad if possible.

Sanchez returned to Arsenal training this week, with Wenger once again insisting he’d be staying, saying: ‘My decision is clear. He will stay, it’s as simple as that and he will respect that.’

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