Arsenal in serious danger of losing out on Thomas Lemar if Monaco sell Kylian Mbappe this summer
ARSENAL are in serious danger of losing out on Thomas Lemar – if Monaco decide to sell Kylian Mbappe.
SunSport revealed last month Lemar had already agreed a switch to the Emirates with a £40million fee close to being sealed.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been frustrated in his attempts to get the deal for Lemar over the line ahead of the start of the new season against Leicester City on Friday.
Wenger has added Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac to his ranks and is desperate to land another top target before the window shuts.
However, the 21-year-old French international could see his dream move to the Premier League scuppered if Monaco allow his mate Mbappe to leave.
Mbappe, 18, is reportedly keen to leave Monaco this summer with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain fighting it out for his signature.
The teenager has become the most wanted player in world football – and unlike Neymar there is a genuine market for his talents.
PSG are reported to have agreed personal terms with the teenage sensation valued at £160million, but will find it difficult to land him as Monaco are refusing to sell to domestic rivals.
Latest Arsenal news
Thomas Lemar: The Guadeloupe-born Monaco star Arsenal want
- Thomas Lemar was born in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, on 12 November 1995
- The winger began his youth career at Solidarite Scolaire before joining Caen in 2010.
- In 2013 he broke into the first team at Caen, before Monaco snapped him up in 2015.
- The 21-year-old is rated highly by the national team and has played for the U17s, U18s, U19s, U20s and U21s before appearing in the senior side.
- He made his France debut in 15 November in 2016 after appearing as a sub in a 0-0 friendly against the Ivory Coast.
- Lemar won his first piece of silverware with Monaco last season after they were crowned Ligue 1 champions.
- Think Lemar could be a fantasy football hit? Sign up here
If Mbappe quits the French champions the club hierarchy will draw a line under the summer departures and the Stade Louis II exit door will be slammed shut.
Wenger could be forced to play a waiting game while the Mbappe saga is played out – and if he is sold the Gunners boss will have to move on to other targets.
Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez is an option, but the Foxes will only consider bids of over £45m for the Algerian star.
Bernardo Silva, Benjamain Mendy, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Valere Germain have all left the principality in recent months and a club trying to defend the title cannot afford to haemorrhage more top stars.
Lemar and Mbappe featured for the champions when they kicked off the defence of their title with a 3-2 win over Toulouse on Sunday.
Most read in football
Have you signed up to play fantasy football yet?
If the answer is no you need to take a long, hard look at yourself.
Because the Dream Team game – the UK’s biggest fantasy football game – is back and better than ever this season.
You’ve got a £50m budget to pick 11 players, with all the biggest new signings ready and raring to go ahead of a mouthwatering new Premier League campaign.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up to play now!