According to a recent report in the Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in signing AS Monaco’s creative midfielder Thomas Lemar.

The Frenchman, 21, has scored 14 goals and created 13 further assists in all competitions for Leonardo Jardim’s side this season. As a result, his impressive performances have caught the eye of potential suitors across Europe only two years on from a £3.4m move from Caen.

Unsurprisingly, Monaco want to keep hold of their key players past the summer transfer window having had a great season. Reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in over a decade, coupled with being on the verge of becoming Ligue 1 champions, it’s obvious for them to progress they have to persuade their best players to commit their futures to the club and ignore interest from elsewhere.

That is easier said than done though, especially with the inflated transfer fees that have increased on a yearly basis. A young versatile attacker who can play on either wing and also as an attacking midfielder, Lemar has the capability to perform at the top level for a decade and beyond.

If Arsenal are serious about their interest, they should be prepared to make a bold initial offer in the region of £25m for him and act quickly, as other clubs such as Serie A’s Juventus are also linked with him.