Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim has hinted that Thomas Lemar could leave in January. The French club have also reportedly lowered his asking price.

The media linked Arsenal with a £92m bid for Lemar in the summer, but the deal eventually fell through. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil still haven’t signed new deals, so speculation about their replacements is building.

The Monaco winger is one of those potential replacements, and his manager wasn’t exactly emphatic denying the rumours. “We are not used to selling in the winter,” Jardim said. “But the transfer window lasts until the end of the month and many things can happen.”

RMC Sport claim Monaco are willing to lower their demands for the Gunners. They claim the Ligue 1 club aren’t totally against an offer this month. But they still expect around £60m for the winger.

Arsenal aren’t the only club considering a bid for Lemar, according to the transfer rumour mill. Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £146m, so they certainly have the funds. Reports also claim Chelsea could make a bid. Both teams could probably outbid the Gunners, so they’ll have to hope Wenger can convince the Frenchman.

Personally, Lemar isn’t a direct replacement for Alexis or Özil anyway. He has a lot of strengths, but he doesn’t score or assist as regularly as those two, in general. This season, he has contributed six goals.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t be a good addition to the club, however, as I’m sure he would be. But Arsenal need to focus on direct replacements first, in my opinion.