Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in signing Thomas Lemar who was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal before he signed for Atletico Madrid.

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 01: Thomas Lemar of Atletico Madrid looks on during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and SD Eibar SAD at Wanda Metropolitano on September 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 01: Thomas Lemar of Atletico Madrid looks on during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and SD Eibar SAD at Wanda Metropolitano on September 01, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Immediately, this seems like a daft rumour as Lemar only moved last summer for a fee of £63m.

But with only three goals and six assists in 64 games for the La Liga side (and no goal contributions at all this season), Mundo Deportivo seem to think that Atletico might be willing to let him leave on loan for the rest of the season with an option to buy included for the summer.

The Arsenal follows the trail of Thomas Lemar - Mundo Deportivo, 28 December 2019
The Arsenal follows the trail of Thomas Lemar – Mundo Deportivo, 28 December 2019

Lemar is a left-winger and signing him would mean we could stop playing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out there.

It might also mean we sell Alexandre Lacazette to Atletico or let Aubameyang leave and play the Frenchman as our main striker.

VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - OCTOBER 29: Thomas Lemar of Club Atletico de Madrid looks on during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 29, 2019 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – OCTOBER 29: Thomas Lemar of Club Atletico de Madrid looks on during the Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 29, 2019 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The only thing that seems certain is that a player of Lemar’s value is not coming to the club without one of similar value leaving.