AS Monaco superstar Thomas Lemar, who has been a target for Arsenal and Liverpool, only has eyes for La Liga giants Barcelona, according to reports.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal and Liverpool have been handed a cruel blow to their respective plans of adding Thomas Lemar to their squad. The AS Monaco star is reportedly keen on a move to Barcelona and has set his sights on a transfer to the La Liga giants only.
For a long time, Thomas Lemar looked to be on his way out of AS Monaco, just like much of the core that won the Ligue 1 in the 2016-17 campaign had done in the summer of 2017. But, the playmaker stayed on beyond August, despite interest from almost every top club in the Premier League and La Liga.
The rumours have resurfaced in the January transfer window, especially with Arsenal and Liverpool both needing urgent reinforcements in attack. Lemar is predominantly a left-sided winger, a position that has been vacated by Coutinho at Liverpool.
Also, the AS Monaco star’s ability to take the field as a midfielder could see Klopp use the player in a midfield three, with Lemar deployed preferably on the left side.
At Arsenal, Theo Walcott has already bid adieu to the fans and the club to join Everton. And Alexis Sanchez’s move seems like it is just pending official confirmation and minor details from both Manchester United and Arsenal. Thus, Arsene Wenger is in dire need of a winger to add to his squad, which has seen the club being linked profusely to the likes of Malcom and Lucas Moura.
?️ Thomas Lemar has reportedly told Monaco he would rather move to Barcelona than Liverpool! ? pic.twitter.com/cQzkIIT28R
— Oddschanger (@Oddschanger) January 21, 2018
A £90 million fee has been touted as the amount that will make AS Monaco change their stance on the availability of the 22-year-old – an amount either club could have paid to add, in Lemar, a player who can don the wing for nearly a decade.
But, according to the report, the player only has eyes for Barcelona, who were interested in the player in the summer. It is worth noting that the Catalans have added Ousmane Dembele in the summer and Coutinho now in January, both of whom are direct challengers for Lemar’s spot, in case Barcelona do move for the player.
However, the report iterates that Barcelona could be looking to lay down succession plans for other attackers, which could see Lemar join the club.
AS Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim though, would not like to part with Lemar in January, if at all. The manager recently confirmed that Lemar could be available for the right price while also maintaining that, ideally, he would love to keep the player at Monaco for as long as he is the manager of the club.
But, if Barcelona does come calling in the summer, AS Monaco or even Arsenal and Liverpool will unlikely be able to change Lemar’s mind.
