Arsenal and Liverpool failed in their efforts to sign Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco last summer.
The Gunners even made a bid of €100m for the France international on the deadline day of the last summer transfer window and it was turned down by the Ligue 1 outfit. This was confirmed by Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev during an interview with RMC Sport.
Lemar was left astonished as to what the north London club were ready to pay Monaco to acquire his services. He is still linked with a move away from his current employers with L’Equipe suggesting Arsenal and Liverpool are still interested in securing his services.
When L’Equipe asked if he had imagined that a club like Arsenal would make a €100m bid for his signature, Lemar said: “It would be more than what Real paid when they signed Zidane.. (He laughs.). Oh no, I am not comparing myself to Zidane! It is Zidane!”
“After that, the transfer market is a bit crazy now. I work, I work… We’ll see [regarding future] what happens in due time.”
It’s no surprise that big clubs across Europa are still looking at the option of signing him this summer, putting a less than spectacular season down to fitness issues and his head being turned.
On his crazy August deadline day, which included scoring a great goal against the Netherlands, Lemar said: “It is flattering that such clubs are interested in you, but, except perhaps for a few minutes during the meal, the day of the match, I didn’t think about it at all. My agents left me alone so that I could focus on that important match. Therefore, I was not disturbed for a second.”
