Arsène Wenger has said he will revisit his interest in the Monaco forward Thomas Lemar, after confirming Arsenal submitted a late £92m bid for the France international before the transfer deadline on Thursday.
Wenger said Arsenal met Monaco’s €100m (£92m) asking price for the 21-year-old but that Lemar decided against a move away from the Ligue 1 champions. Arsenal made three bids for Lemar earlier in the summer, the biggest being worth €50m, but even the late €100m offer did not get over the line.
Speaking on Téléfoot, a French football programme, Wenger said: “€100m for Lemar? Yes all true, I wanted him. He decided to stay at Monaco. We will come back for him.”
Alexis Sánchez’s proposed move to Manchester City collapsed as a result of Arsenal’s failure to push through a late move for Lemar, with a medical virtually impossible due because the player was on international duty. He scored twice in France’s resounding 4-0 win against Holland on Thursday.
City had put forward a second cash offer for Sánchez, which was worth £55m plus £5m in add-ons. Arsenal were inclined to accept it, with the player keen on the move but Sánchez saw any departure ultimately blocked.