Arsenal have once more made Thomas Lemar their No.1 transfer target if Alexis Sanchez departs for Manchester City.
City boss Pep Guardiola wants to sign Sanchez this month – and the Blues have already sounded out Arsenal about a potential deal.
Arsene Wenger has previously stated that the Gunners wanted to keep the Chilean, but are now willing to cash in for around £30million, on a player who can walk away for nothing on July 1.
The increasingly likely event of Sanchez heading to the Etihad before January ends means Arsenal will step up their pursuit of a replacement – and French international Lemar is once more the man they want.
The left-sided 22-year-old starred for Monaco during their Ligue 1 triumph and Champions League run last term.
Monaco have previously been clear that they would not sell the France international in January, with sources telling Mirror Sport last week that he categorically wasn’t for sale this month.
But with Lemar being linked with a potential big-money transfer to the Premier League and a potential tug-of-war between the Gunners and Liverpool – flush with Philippe Coutinho money after his defection to Barcelona – it’s been suggested that their initial stance could change.