Thomas Lemar has a ‘fair chance’ of leaving Monaco according to the club’s vice-president Vadim Vasilyev.
Lemar was heavily linked with a move away from the French Champions this summer, with both Liverpool and Arsenal linked.
It was Arsenal who came closest to signing the young Frenchman, after they had a bid of £92m accepted on transfer deadline day. However, with him due to play for France that evening, and little time to consider a move, he decided to stay in the French principality.
However, in an interview with Sky Sports News, Vasilyev confirmed he expects him to leave:
“Liverpool were really interested, but it was Arsenal that was really close to finalising the deal.
“It was quite close. At the same time it was just too late, not enough time, to really follow up on this deal. Not all the elements of the puzzle fell in place. I’m very happy he stayed with us. For us, we need a player like Thomas Lemar. He’s very important to our team.
“Definitely next summer will be something to look at, although you know in football there are no guarantees. We had some players who were supposed to leave this summer but didn’t leave because of X, Y, Z. I think it would be fair to say Thomas will have a fair chance to an exit next year.
However, he did go on to say that he is hoping to keep hold of the winger beyond the January transfer window:
“January, in football, never say never, but this is not what we’re thinking of, this is really not in our plans.
“Then we have to wait and see, how the team does, in different competitions, if we have an interest in him, and also his ambitions after the World Cup. January doesn’t seem like the right time for major changes in the team.”