Arsenal transfer news: Thomas Lemar targeted by Arsene Wenger as ex-Monaco boss looks to raid former club for young midfield sensation
Ligue 1 club want to keep young midfielder for another year, but £25million price tag and Premier League football could lure him to London
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger wants to raid former club Monaco for French starlet Thomas Lemar as part of a major summer overhaul.
The Ligue 1 club want to keep the young midfielder on for another year, but £25million price tag and Premier League football could lure him to London.
Gunners chief Wenger is a huge admirer of the 21-year-old who has taken French football by storm, excelling for Monaco since joining from Caen in 2015, report the .
It is also a clear sign that under fire Wenger sees his future at the club despite a torrid campaign with fans calling for his head - although a recent run of form including last night's 2-0 win at Southampton has seen them move into fifth.
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And if Wenger does stay on, he is desperate to overhaul his under performing squad, with Lemar a key name - despite Monaco wanting to keep him for another season.
Lemar played as Monaco exited the Champions League this week against Juventus, having performed well in Europe all season, showing maturity beyond his years.
They have already had to ward off the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City - but the lure of working with countryman Wenger, himself a former Monaco manager could pure alluring.
In the past, Wenger has admitted his interest in the French international, even saying he was aware of his talents before he joined Monaco.
Money should be available to Wenger in the summer should he stay, perhaps helped by a sale of wantaway stars Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanches - so £25m is well within range.
And business appears to be beginning early, with Schalke's out of contract left-back Sead Kolasinac widely rumoured to be joining - while a move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette to solve their striker crisis is also on the table.