Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident of sealing the services of AS Monaco striker Thomas Lemar with a third bid of around £45m in the coming days.
The Gunners boss has already expressed his intention to bolster the squad this summer after having recruited the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette – the latter for a club-record fee.
According to The Sun, the Frenchman is prepared to extend his spending spree towards the £100m range with Lemar being the latest player on his sights.
Lemar was one of the many standout performers for Monaco during the previous campaign, and he managed to bag 14 goals and as many assists for the Principality club, who were crowned as the new French champions.
Monaco are in no hurry to accept Lemar’s sale with bids of £35m and £40m already turned down from Arsenal, but Wenger is increasingly confident that a third offer of £45m plus add-ons would be sufficient to pursue his compatriot.
Lemar has already made his mark with France over the year, and a move to the Premier League could earn him further recognition while playing with national regulars Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud.
The attacker is keen to seal a switch during this summer’s transfer window, and the deal could potentially see him sign a five-year deal with weekly wages of £100,000 up for offer – a mammoth increase on his current £2,800 salary.
The FA Cup holders have normally waited until the dying stages of the transfer window before making their moves in the market, but Wenger is eager to wrap up his signings in time for the new league season.
