French forward Thomas Lemar is surplus to requirement at Atlético Madrid and the Spanish club would like to offload him to Arsenal or any other Premier League clubs to raise funds to buy a new striker. Since joining Atletico from Monaco for €72m in 2018, his performance has not lived up to the hype created by the impressive form that he showcased in France and in the Champions League semi-finals in 2017.
Scoring goals have been a problem for Diego Simone’s side this season. Also, the sale of Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona last summer has contributed to the lack of goals at the Wanda Metropolitano. But the club has identified signing a new striker or bolstering the forward ranks as the solution to the goal-scoring problem.
In order to get money to sign a new striker, Atlético will need to sell a first-team player and Marca is reporting that Lemar is the only option being considered currently. Lemar’s agent Jorge Mendes is said to have held talks with Los Rojiblancos CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin over his future, though both parties acknowledge that a January departure will be made challenging by his current injury problems and poor form.
Atletico would prefer that the 24-year-old moved to a Premier League side as the division’s inflated transfer market offers them the best opportunity to recoup the huge money spent on the player. If a suitable destination can be found for Lemar, Atléti will then look to bring in a new striker to bolster their ranks.
Edinson Cavani is one possible option and the Paris Saint-Germain’s frontman is believed to have already agreed personal terms with Atlético, with the transfer being stalled by the two clubs’ failure to agree to a fee. According to report, Cavani would command a €14m transfer fee and is currently on €18m in wages, making a January switch to Madrid almost impossible.
Cavani, who has been heavily linked to a move away from, has made 11 appearances for PSG this season, in which he has netted three goals. The PSG star has been affected by injuries but that has not prevented Atletico expressing an interest in the Uruguay international. It was learned that the PSG forward rejected a move to MLS club Inter Miami in favour of remaining in European football.
