Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have received a transfer boost in their pursuit for AS Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, with the French Ligue 1 club making a new signing this summer.

According to Football.London, Monaco’s £2.5m acquisition of Barcelona’s highly-rated Jordi Mboula could see Lemar sold. The newly-signed 18-year-old can play as a winger and attacking-midfielder, occupying similar roles in the final third as Lemar does, which could mean Lyon are more open to accepting offers for their midfielders.

The 21-year-old shone for AS Monaco last season, scoring nine goals and making 10 assists in 34 Ligue 1 games. Lemar led the French club to the domestic title and the Champions League semi-finals and his side are desperate to keep him as a result.

Monaco are wary of rich European clubs picking them apart for their best-performing players from 2016/17 and they may well be preparing for such an event with the signing of prospects as long-term replacements for existing stars.

Tottenham are desperate for more goals for their Champions League campaign and have had an over-reliance on their starting eleven. Arsenal have been short of creativity without Santi Cazorla in the side since October and want more ammunition to ensure more chances are created for the forwards.