Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal’s move for Thomas Lemar is ‘dead’ because Monaco have ‘closed the door’ on the club’s interest.
The Gunners had two bids rejected for the 21-year-old earlier this summer but speculation this week suggest Monaco had reconsidered their stance on letting the Frenchman go.
Lemar is believed to be keen on a move to the Emirates but Monaco have already sold Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy this summer.
The Ligue 1 giants are working hard on blocking Kylian Mbappe and Fabinho from joining title rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Wenger believes this has killed Arsenal’s chances of signing Lemar.
‘It’s dead,’ said Wenger, referring to Arsenal’s move for Lemar.
‘Monaco have closed the door definitely because there are ongoing cases with Mbappe and Fabinho.
‘They lost Mendy, Silva and Bakayoko so Monaco are at the stage where they have closed the door.
‘We have the numbers and quality to deal with that.’
Arsenal may have let contract rebel Alexis Sanchez leave if they landed Lemar but the Chile international is now expected to stay at the Emirates this summer.
The 28-year-old is refusing to sign a new deal at the club but Wenger admitted today that he could make his long-awaited return in Sunday’s clash against Liverpool.
Sanchez has worked very hard to be back again and is available again,’ said Wenger this morning.
‘He works very hard in training. He gives everything. It’s always difficult to stop him. He looks ready.’
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