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Wenger offers update on Arsenal’s pursuit of £45m star

By on August 24, 2017

Arsene Wenger has offered an update on Arsenal’s pursuit of £45m-rated attacker Thomas Lemar and unfortunately it looks like Monaco are now refusing to sell.

Lemar has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates all summer and at one stage back in June it looked like a deal was close as we submitted two formal offers.

We couldn’t agree a fee with Monaco – who value the 21-year-old at £45m according to The Sun – and the Ligue 1 champions went on to sell Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko to our Premier League rivals.

With Fabinho and Kylian Mbappe also expected to leave before the end of the month, it looks like Monaco have decided to shut up shop and are now refusing to do business for Lemar.

Speaking at his press conference this morning, Wenger was quizzed by reporters for an update on our pursuit of Lemar and the boss claims the proposed deal is now ‘dead’.

Wenger is quoted as saying by The Sun:

“It’s dead because Monaco don’t want to sell. Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho [might go]… they have lost already Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko.

“So Monaco is at a stage where they have closed the door.”

Obviously this is a huge blow for Arsenal as Lemar was seen as a prime target this summer and he would have been a superb addition if we had managed to get a deal over the line.

The French international provided 14 goals and 17 assists last season to help Monaco win the title so he would have offered a real threat in the final third and could have been viewed as a long-term replacement for Alexis Sanchez.

READ: Arsenal in battle to sign £32m midfielder

However, it appears the move is now ‘dead’ and the news will come as a major concern to supporters as it’s growing increasingly likely that we won’t make any further signings this summer.

Let’s pray these comments from Wenger are just part of negotiations as he looks to drive Monaco’s price down but I have a horrible feeling the boss is telling the truth on this occasion.

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