Italian football journalist Emanuele Giulianelli claims that Thomas Lemar’s move to Arsenal is ‘done’.
Deal done?
Giulianelli claims via Twitter that Arsenal’s move for Monaco winger, Lemar, is complete but the Ligue 1 club are waiting to find his replacement before announcing it.
To all the Arsenal supporters asking me about Lemar I can answer: don't worry, he will join the Gunners.
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) July 28, 2017
Done, but Monaco want to have a substitute first.
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) July 28, 2017
While this does seem perfectly plausible and Giulianelli isn’t the only journalist reporting that the Gunners are at least in ongoing talks with Monaco over bringing the 21-year-old to north London, Giulianelli himself isn’t the most reliable source when it comes to Arsenal transfer news.
Back in 2015, he reported that Arsenal had signed Karim Benzema on a four-year deal.
Benzema will join Arsenal. 4 years contract at €9mln/y. #afc #gunners
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) August 5, 2015
The following summer, he claimed that the Gunners had agreed personal terms with Romelu Lukaku.
Despite Chelsea pressing, Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Lukaku. An offer will be submitted.
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) June 24, 2016
He did get Shkodran Mustafi’s medical sort of right considering he claimed there was going to be a medical after the 18 August and the Gunners announced signing the defender on 30 August. However, the German’s move to north London had been the talk of the summer so it looked pretty likely. Plus, even a broken clock’s right twice a day, right?
+++ Arsenal: looks like Mustafi will be agreed tomorrow. Club were waiting to see if injury would heal as expected. Looks to be €30m #afc
— Emanuele Giulianelli (@EmaGiulianelli) August 18, 2016
Sky Sports reporter, Dharmesh Sheth, believes that talks are ongoing between Monaco and Arsenal, and that Arsene Wenger is still really keen on signing Lemar.
The France international scored 14 and assisted 17 last season and, if reports are to be believed, could set Arsenal back up to £60m. Not that said reports believe Wenger will pay that much.
The Gunners are said to have had two bids of £30m and £40m rejected this summer, and have now allegedly gone back in with a £45m offer.
Monaco claim Lemar isn’t going anywhere but Sheth believes the Ligue 1 club could be bluffing in order to get more money.