Chelsea Could Hold Advantage Over Arsenal & Liverpool In Race To Sign £80m Star

The January transfer window is just around the corner meaning clubs are working hard on potential deals so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, more on the future of Thomas Lemar…

Chelsea could use Michy Batshuayi as bait in order to beat Arsenal and Liverpool to the signing of £80m Monaco attacker Thomas Lemar, according to the Telegraph.

Lemar was one of the most sought after players of the summer transfer window after providing 14 goals and 17 assists to help fire Monaco to the Ligue 1 title last season.

The 22-year-old attracted strong interest from Arsenal and Liverpool with the English duo making big-money attempts to sign Lemar during the closing stages of the summer.

A deal failed to materialise and the attacker stayed at Monaco but L’Equipe, via the Mirror, reported earlier this week that Arsenal and Liverpool were ready to launch fresh moves to sign Lemar this winter.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for attacking reinforcements with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil expected to leave when their contracts expire and Lemar has emerged as a prime target for the Gunners boss.

Jurgen Klopp is also on the look-out for an attacking midfielder with Philippe Coutinho constantly linked with a move to Barcelona and it looks like the Liverpool boss has earmarked Lemar as a potential replacement.

However, the duo will face fresh competition from Chelsea as the Telegraph claim Antonio Conte is also showing a keen interest in signing the £80m-rated French international in January.

And the Blues could have an advantage in the race for his signature as the newspaper suggests Chelsea may use Michy Batshuayi as bait to try and get a deal agreed for Lemar.

The Telegraph claim Monaco wanted to sign Batshuayi in the summer but Chelsea decided to keep hold of the Belgian international after missing out on Fernando Llorente.

However, Batshuayi has continued to struggle for game-time at Stamford Bridge this season and Conte could now offer him to Monaco as part of any deal to sign Lemar this winter.

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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming weeks but Lemar would be an excellent signing if Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool were able to lure the Frenchman to England.