Arsenal have reportedly switched their transfer focus away from trying to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco to offloading unwanted players already at the club.

While getting rid of old players isn’t half as exciting as signing new ones, it’s almost just as necessary, and this is why Arsenal are allegedly switching their transfer focus this summer away from trying to sign Lemar, to offloading deadwood.

The Gunners have apparently hit a dead end in negotiations with Monaco over bringing Lemar on board.

According to the Daily Mail, since the Ligue 1 club have allowed Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Tiemoue Bakayoko to sign for Manchester City and Chelsea, they’re unlikely to allow the 21-year-old winger to leave until next summer.

While according to the BBC’s David Ornstein, Arsenal are still interested, Monaco are said to be asking for £50m for the young France international.

Therefore, Arsene Wenger has reportedly decided to put all of his focus into offloading players that the club see as surplus to requirements.

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Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Lucas Perez, Joel Campbell and Jack Wilshere are all said to be heading for the exit. Although it’s unclear whether Arsenal will be able to sell all of them.

Gibbs, Jenks, Campbell and Wilshere all have less than a year on their existing deals so if they don’t go this summer, they’ll go for free next year. Therefore, you’d have to imagine that getting rid of them will be a priority.

Gibbs is thought to be wanted by West Brom after talks with Watford broke down, Debuchy could be returning to France, clubs in Italy are apparently keen on Jenks, Lucas could be going to Newcastle and just about everyone wants Wilshere.