Arsene Wenger ‘wants to sell EIGHT Arsenal players’ to fund £80MILLION transfer for Monaco ace Thomas Lemar
Gunners have already had two bids rejected for the 21-year-old winger
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ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger wants to get rid of EIGHT players so he can bring in Thomas Lemar, according to reports.
The Gunners boss has already had two bids rejected by Monaco for the winger, and will now try to move a number of fringe first-team players to fund an improved offer.
The Ligue 1 champions have already lost Bernardo Silva and Tiemoue Bakayoko, while Benjamin Mendy is close to a Manchester City move.
Kylian Mbappe continues to be linked with Europe's biggest clubs and Monaco do not want to lose Lemar, 21, at any price.
According to the Daily Mail, Wenger is not prepared to give up on the winger just yet.
Arsenal have already made two bids - of £30million and £40m rejected - but Wenger wants to sell unwanted players to fund a move that could rise to £80m with add-ons.
Wenger has already broke the club transfer record once this summer, on £52m striker Alexandre Lacazette, and is prepared to do so again.
But he first must sell - leaving eight players wondering about their future.
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Thomas Lemar: The Guadeloupe-born Monaco star Arsenal want
- Thomas Lemar was born in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, on 12 November 1995
- The winger began his youth career at Solidarite Scolaire before joining Caen in 2010.
- In 2013 he broke into the first team at Caen, before Monaco snapped him up in 2015.
- The 21-year-old is rated highly by the national team and has played for the U17s, U18s, U19s, U20s and U21s before appearing in the senior side.
- He made his France debut in 15 November in 2016 after appearing as a sub in a 0-0 friendly against the Ivory Coast.
- Lemar won his first piece of silverware with Monaco last season after they were crowned Ligue 1 champions.
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Wojciech Szczesny, Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson are all believed to be close to moves away.
Goalkeeper Szczesny could join Juventus in a cut-price deal, Debuchy is expected to return to France with Nice this week and Crystal Palace, Brighton and Newcastle want Jenkinson.
Rafa Benitez has also been linked with Kieran Gibbs, as have Watford and West Brom.
Palace also want England Under-21 defender Calum Chambers and Lucas Perez could return to Spain.
The two biggest question marks remain Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud.
Wilshere looked to have a future in north London after a decent loan spell at Bournemouth - but then broke his foot at the end of the season.
French striker Giroud is on tour with the squad in the Far East, but wants regular first-team football that may be hard to find after the addition of Lacazette.
Everton, West Ham and Marseille are all interested.
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all been linked with Arsenal exits this summer, but Wenger is desperate for the trio to pledge their futures at the Emirates.
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