Arsenal are reportedly close to completing a deal to sign French winger Thomas Lemar for a fee of around £45m, The Sun claims. The France international has been underlined as the top option to bolster the wider position and the Gunners are now on the cusp of sealing an agreement.
The French champions have sold key players in Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Benjamin Mendy to Premier League clubs this summer, and this has increased their determination to keep Lemar after having snubbed two bids from the north London giants.
The latest offer of £45m is expected to test Monaco’s resolve further, and the Gunners are quite confident of securing a deal for Lemar with personal terms agreed in advance.
The 21-year-old could be seen as a potential replacement for contract rebel Alexis Sanchez next season, but the Gunners remain adamant that the Chilean would stay regardless of his contractual status.
Sanchez has entered the final year of his Gunners deal, and he is due to hold crunch talks with Wenger on Monday where he will seek to push through an exit from north London.
The former Caen man netted 14 goals and as many assists for Monaco last campaign as they secured their first French title since the millennium while also reaching the last four of the Champions League.
Initially, there were doubts that Arsenal could struggle to attract players due to their participation in the Europa League, but this has been put out of question following the club’s record capture of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon earlier in the month.
As things stand, Lemar could join the likes of Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac at the Emirates, and become the Gunners’ third signing of the summer transfer window.
