Arsenal will sell up to five players this summer to fund a big-money move for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, according to latest reports.

The Daily Star believe the Gunners will allow Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Calum Chambers and Lucas Perez to depart form the Emirates Stadium in order to fund the £80m necessary to sign Lemar.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has never been so ruthless with fringe players to sign one transfer target so it’s unlikely the Londoners will have such a mass clear-out. But he does remain interested in Lemar and isn’t making much progress on the negotiation front.

Monaco have a lofty asking price given they’ve been pillaged by clubs this summer after winning the Ligue 1 title and getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The message to suitors is to meet their demands or miss out on transfer targets. As a result, Arsenal would be forced into raising funds in a dramatic fashion if the club won’t sanction another club-record bid.

Wojciech Szczesny looks set for Juventus, Kieran Gibbs has been linked with West Brom, Carl Jenkinson has proven tough to shift, Calum Chambers has been linked with former side Southampton and Lucas Perez looks set to retain to Spain.

Arsenal could raise a tidy sum if they sold all five players this summer, but it would be most unlike them to be so ruthless and would leave their squad short on depth.