Joleon Lescott has called Arsene Wenger’s transfer methods “outdated” after Arsenal failed to sign Thomas Lemar for a reported £92m this summer.

The former Manchester City and England defender believes that the club’s attempts and eventual failure to sign Monaco’s Thomas Lemar proves that Wenger’s methods are outdated. “His knowledge of the game is second to none,” Lescott said, reports the Daily Star.

“I’m just sure the way he’s going about things is a little bit dated due to the fact that two weeks ago Arsenal were willing to spend £45m on Lemar and then two weeks later they doubled it. How true that is no one is actually going to know until the next window.”

The Lemar saga was certainly a strange one. Arsenal had interest as far back as June but failed to agree a price with Monaco. That price seemingly only got higher and higher as Monaco sold key players and became more reluctant to sell Lemar.

It culminated with Arsenal bidding £92m on deadline day, but ultimately being rejected by the player. That bid was twice as big as what Arsenal had previously offered. A lot of things could have happened in the time between those bids.

Monaco may have increased their asking price after selling other players. Alternatively, the Ligue 1 side may have wanted a fee that large from the beginning and it was Arsenal who failed to meet that asking price until the last minute.

Whatever happened, it wasn’t the most competently handled transfer, and is evidence that something isn’t right with Wenger’s methods.