Transfer Profile: Thomas Lemar
By Will Castle
The next name to feature in our transfer profile series is one Arsenal fans will be familiar with, as we take a detailed look at Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Lemar.
Gunners supporters may remember Lemar as a player Arsene Wenger was prepared to splash eye-watering cash for back in August 2017 during his time at Monaco, only for the move to fall through in dramatic style on deadline day.
Lemar has since moved to Atletico Madrid, where he has somewhat reinvented himself under Diego Simeone after his career seemed to stall for a couple of seasons.
And now, it appears a move to the Emirates could be back on the cards for the Frenchman, as Arsenal look to add depth to their squad this summer.
So, with that, let’s take a look at what the former Monaco man could bring to Mikel Arteta’s side, as they look to re-establish themselves as a serious threat in the race for top four this season.
Who is he?
Thomas Lemar is a versatile midfielder, who first started his career at French side Caen after advancing through their academy.
After a promising couple of seasons in Normandy, which saw him contribute to Caen’s promotion to the French top tier in 2014, Lemar earned a move to Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco in 2015 – the place he would truly make a name for himself in European football.
Lemar would be part of the famous Monaco side, brimming with talent such as Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Fabinho, that would clinch their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years, ending Paris Saint-Germain’s domination of French football, albeit for a singular season.
It was this campaign that attracted Arsenal, among many other potential suitors, to Lemar’s doorstep, offering an overwhelming £92 million for the player towards the end of the summer transfer window in 2017, only for it to be rejected.
This was an outcome that would lead the Gunners to count their blessings, however, as the Frenchman would fail to live up to the spellbinding heights he reached in the 2016/17 season, being shipped off to Atletico Madrid the following season.
After a rocky start at the Wanda Metropolitano, Lemar has begun to find his feet in recent seasons, becoming a regular fixture in Diego Simeone’s side after adopting a new central role.
Now that it appears Lemar is getting back to his best, should Arsenal consider making another move to sign the Frenchman, five years after their initial approach?
What will he bring?
As a pacey, skilful midfielder, Thomas Lemar seems to fit the bill for Arsenal.
In line with Arteta’s summer signings so far in Fabio Vieira, Oleksander Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, Lemar is also known for his versatility, being able to play on both wings and through the centre.
This means he would further reinforce the Gunners’ options in the middle of the park, acting to address Arsenal’s age-old issue of a lack of quality in depth in that area.
The 26-year-old is also still yet to hit his prime, meaning his signing would reflect Mikel Arteta’s recent transfer approach of buying with an eye for the future.
However, there are undoubtedly downsides to the prospect of Arsenal dipping back into the market for Lemar.
Should Arsenal be looking elsewhere?
While reinforcements in midfield is something Gooners have been desiring in recent times, there are questions over whether Lemar would be the right man to invest in.
It is widely considered that Arsenal dodged a bullet in failing to sign Lemar back in 2017, and while his performances have picked up in the last couple of seasons, it would be bewildering for the Gunners to jump back into the firing line and sign a player infamous for his problems with consistency.
On top of this, Lemar is highly injury-prone, and critics would be sceptical that he could handle the jump to the more physically demanding Premier League.
Verdict
Arsenal might be in need of a midfielder to reinforce their ranks, but you have to think going back in for Thomas Lemar would be an ill-advised decision.
While on paper he may fit the bill, Lemar simply hasn’t hit the heights that were expected of him since that magical season in Monaco, and he doesn’t seem likely to any time soon.
Furthermore, the fact that the Frenchman has proven to be very injury-prone, experiencing numerous muscle issues, means that the risk of this transfer simply outweighs the rewards.
If the Gunners are going to add to their squad further this summer, there are certainly safer options on the market to consider.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
