Arsene Wenger confirms €100m Thomas Lemar bid, plans another offer

ByPete Sharland

Updated 03/09/2017 at 09:49 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the club bid €100 million for Monaco's Thomas Lemar, adding that they plan to return with another offer.

Late reports on deadline day said Arsenal had lodged a big bid to sign Lemar, who they viewed as the replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who was wanted by Manchester City.

However the move did not come off, with reports varying on their reason for the collapse suggesting that either there wasn't enough time to complete the deal, Monaco rejected the bid or Lemar rejected Arsenal.

But speaking on Telefoot, Wenger confirmed that a bid was made but the player wanted to stay.

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"Yes, we bid 100m euros for Lemar but the player wanted to stay in Monaco," he said.

However, he added that there were plans to return with another bid.

"Yes, we'll come back in for him."

Thomas Lemar

Image credit: Getty Images

It is unclear whether Wenger meant January or the summer, but any move may hinge on the club making it back into the Champions League.

Wenger also had praise for Lemar's former team-mate, Kylian Mbappe who has joined PSG on loan, saying that he has the ability to be as good as Pele.

"Mbappe could be (the next) Pele," he said. "There are no limits to how far he can go."

He added that he wanted to sign Mbappe but felt priced out.

"I wanted him too, but €180m is too much for us."

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