Liverpool are leading the race to sign AS Monaco winger Thomas Lemar next summer. According to recent reports, the Reds are in pole position to secure the services of the French international at the end of the season. The 22-year-old midfielder was previously linked with a move to the Premier League with both Liverpool and Arsenal clashing heads in pursuit of his signature.
The French youngster reportedly agreed terms with the Gunners last summer, but AS Monaco blocked his transfer after allowing a whole host of their other stars depart. It is believed that the French champions always wanted to keep hold of Lemar this term in the hope of sparking a bidding war at the end of the campaign.
Monaco are asking for a fee around £90m for Lemar and some sources are now reporting that the Merseyside club are close to agreeing a fee for the former SM Caen midfielder. It is being suggested that Jurgen Klopp’s side have “made some good moves” in recent months and are close to sealing a potential deal. Lemar has featured in 27 matches for AS Monaco this season, finding the back of the net 3 times while also providing 8 assists across all competitions.
The Reds are currently sitting in 3rd place in the Premier League table after securing a hard-fought 2-0 victory at home versus Newcastle United on Saturday. The Anfield-based outfit find themselves just above Tottenham Hotspur, who are in fourth place with a two-point gap separating the two teams at the moment.
However, the five-time European champions are a staggering 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City. The addition of Lemar will strengthen the Reds attack as they look to bridge the gap between themselves and the Manchester clubs going into the future. Liverpool has the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Adam Lallana and Danny Ings vying for a position in Klopp’s starting eleven. The potential signing of Lemar will undoubtedly bolster Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options while adding competition for places in the Reds squad ahead of the new campaign.
He is highly versatile and can operate in a number of different positions across the frontline. He can play on either flank or in the number 10 position which makes him an ideal fit for Jurgen Klopp’s team. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Lemar and whether he ends up making a switch to Anfield in the near future.
