BBC Sports journalist David Ornstein believes that Arsenal are unlikely to pursue the services of Monaco winger Thomas Lemar unless they make a substantial offer this summer.
The Principality outfit have clearly indicated that the 21-year-old will remain at Stade Louis II with the club reluctant to lose any players following the exits of Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Speaking on Radio Five Live h/t The Star, Ornstein admits that the deal is literally off with the French champions maintaining their stance of not selling the winger. He added that the Gunners may have to make an incredible offer – predictably breaking their transfer record in order to secure the signature of the highly-rated Frenchman.
“It’s very unlikely Arsenal will sign him now,” he said. “There is interest there but Monaco have made their stance pretty clear that he’s not for sale and it would take an incredible amount of money for Arsenal to prise him away.”
Arsenal have made two promising signings in the form of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette this summer, and Ornstein believes that there could be another arrival prior to the deadline, although the emphasis is on offloading their fringe players.
He concluded: “There may be one that Arsenal are possibly looking to bring in. I don’t think there is a specific name, but there is perhaps scope to bring in one more player. They may look to bring a player in before the deadline but the priority is to shift a player out.”
Arsene Wenger saw his team make the perfect start to the Premier League campaign after they twice came from behind to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory over Leicester City on Friday night.
Both Lacazette and Kolasinac made their contribution with a goal and assist respectively, but Wenger will have his sights on sorting out the defence which lacked several senior players.
