Chelsea are reportedly set to use Michy Batshuayi as a makeweight in their pursuit of Thomas Lemar, who is also being courted by Arsenal
According to a report by The Telegraph, Thomas Lemar is the subject of interest from Chelsea, who have joined Arsenal in pursuit of the French forward. The Blues could propose an offer that includes Michy Batshuayi heading the other way on loan to sweeten the deal for AS Monaco.
Lemar joined AS Monaco from Caen in the summer of 2015, but only shot into the limelight last season, as he played an instrumental role in the club’s shock Ligue 1 triumph. With 14 goals and 17 assists, the player was a prolific contributor for the principality club over the course of their stunning campaign.
The summer that followed saw Lemar being pursued by a number of clubs, with Arsenal also lodging a late £90 million bid on deadline day, before any move failed to materialise. Following the scuppered exit, the Frenchman has struggled to recapture his best form, with just a solitary goal and four assists in 16 appearances.
Chelsea are weighing up a January bid to try to hijack Liverpool and Arsenal’s interest in Monaco star Thomas Lemar. (Source: Daily Telegraph) pic.twitter.com/BTmfy1Ronx
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 13, 2017
Nevertheless, he remains a popular figure in the transfer market, with clubs continuing to chase him ahead of the winter transfer window. The most concrete of interests comes from the Premier League, where Arsenal have remained in pursuit of the 22-year-old, and have now been joined by Chelsea.
The Gunners are preparing for life after Alexis Sanchez, who is set to depart from the Emirates, either in January or next summer. Arsenal are reportedly considering cashing in on the Chilean, and replace him adequately by signing Lemar, who could become quite the asset if he manages to rediscover top form.
Chelsea’s interest, on the other hand, could be stemming from the fact that Willian is being heavily linked with a January exit, in addition to the fact that Antonio Conte has been vocal about the size of his squad. Lemar has, thus, emerged as a viable target, with the Blues looking to bolster in January.
To tempt Monaco into selling the France international, Chelsea are set to propose a deal that would involve Michy Batshuayi going to Stade Louis II on loan. The principality club’s new sporting director, Michael Emenalo is known to be a fan of the Belgian, who has struggled to establish himself in the first-team setup at Stamford Bridge.
Including Batshuayi in a possible deal might also help Chelsea in lowering Monaco’s £80 million asking price. On the other hand, it remains to be seen how Arsenal tip the scales in their favour, and it’ll be interesting to see where Lemar heads off to, with just a couple of weeks remaining before the transfer window opens.
