GUNNERS IN AGAIN FOR LEMAR

ARSENE WENGER will go back with a third bid for Thomas Lemar – as he is convinced that the France winger wants to join Arsenal.

The Gunners manager has already seen bids of £30million and £40m turned down by Monaco, but Arsenal are refusing to give up as they believe they can land their man. Wenger is willing to splash out £45m-plus to get Lemar (left), which would be the second time they have beaten their transfer record this window.

Arsenal paid £52m for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette last week, which beat the £42.5m for Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil in 2013.

Lemar, 21, has always been the Gunners’ top priority in the wide areas and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez would only ever be seen as a back-up with Wenger not completely convinced by him.

Lemar’s representatives have held talks with Monaco and Arsenal to try and get the deal done with the biggest obstacle being the French club do not want to sell all of their best players.

They have already off-loaded Bernardo Silva to Manchester City and Tiemoue Bakayoko is on the verge of a move to Chelsea, while Kylian Mbappe and Benjamin Mendy could also go this summer.

Monaco’s reasoning for the sky-high fee is that Lemar played a part in their highly successful Champions League campaign and is also a full France international, which is comparable with similar deals.