The Spanish media are trying to push the Thomas Lemar-to-Arsenal story once again, despite the winger’s struggles this season.

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: Thomas Lemar of Atletico Madrid looks on during a La Liga match on September 01, 2019. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Marca write that Thomas Lemar is one of six ‘unknowns’ ahead of the transfer window, digging up old links to Arsenal. They claim the Gunners enquired over the winger in January, and Atletico are trying to move him on to create space on the wage bill.

They don’t explicitly state Arsenal will come back in for Lemar in the next transfer window, only hinting at it. From experience, though, we know this usually leads to weeks of rumours once the window actually gets going.

Personally, I doubt there is any chance whatsoever of Arsenal signing Lemar – at least permanently. Perhaps you could imagine a world where the Gunners take the 24-year-old on loan (still very unlikely), but there’s no way they’re signing him this summer.

Atletico bought Lemar for €72m two years ago, and the move isn’t going well. This season, he made 24 appearances without a goal or an assist. The Spanish club would probably have to accept less than half what they paid, considering how far his stock has fallen.

Add to that the current financial difficulties created by the ongoing pandemic, and it’s hard to imagine Arsenal paying anything like what Atletico would ask for.