Reigning UEFA Europa League champions Atletico Madrid have beaten off stiff competition to get AS Monaco to agree to a preliminary agreement for the services of vaunted French winger Thomas Lemar.
“Atletico de Madrid and AS Monaco have achieved a preliminary agreement over the transfer of Thomas Lemar to our club,” a statement read on Atletico’s website.
Lemar, currently with the French national squad in Russia preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is expected to cost the Rojiblancos a cool £50 million.
“Over the next days, both clubs will work to close the agreement for the definitive transfer.”
The 22-year-old has been courted by many elite European clubs, with Premier League giants Arsenal coming within a whisker of signing him in 2017 only for the deal to fall through at the last moment.
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Capped by France at every stage from the U-17 level to the senior national side, the versatile midfielder has been ripping it up in Ligue 1 for Monaco since arriving from Caen in 2015 and his imminent signing would be major coup for Atletico.
Lemar made his senior debut for Les Blues in 2016 and has since then made a total of 12 appearances for Didier Deschamps’ men, scoring three goals in the process.
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Despite not being a confirmed starter, he’s seen as a vital part of Frances’s squad and will be a key player at the World Cup in Russia.
However, his arrival at the Wanda Metropolitano will only exacerbate rumours of compatriot’s Antoine Griezmann’s departure. The fact that a club with relatively modest finances has agreed to shell out a fee north of £50 million suggest a big sale is imminent.
Barcelona and Manchester United are long-term admirers of Griezmann and it remains to be seen if he’ll remain a Atletico player next season as well.