Arsene Wenger says Arsenal are still 'very active' in transfer market with Thomas Lemar on the radar

James Benge18 July 2017

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal are still “very active” in the transfer market and open to strengthening their squad.

Arsenal have already broken their transfer record to bring in Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon in a deal that could be worth £52million.

The French striker followed Sead Kolasinac to the Emirates, the Bosnian international full-back having arrived on a free transfer.

Monaco wide man Thomas Lemar is Arsenal’s next target and the Gunners have seen bids of £30m and £35m knocked back. That has not been enough to end Wenger’s interest in the 21-year-old, with Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez a fall-back option.

Whilst Arsenal’s immediate priority is agreeing extensions for Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, all of whom are out of contract next season, Wenger has made clear he has not ended his activity in the market.

"There are two ways to strengthen the squad - the first is to analyse where we have not done so well and where we can improve together, and the other way is to bring in players from outside," he told Arsenal Player. "We are still open to strengthening our team with players coming from outside.

Arsenal on tour in Australia - In pictures

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"We are very active on the transfer market and have already realised two incomings. We have to keep a balance as well, that you don’t destabilise the team too much by bringing in too many players.

"But we are still active on the transfer market so let’s see what kind of opportunities we can find."

Arsenal are also set to recoup some of their expenditure with Wojciech Szczesny due to complete a £10million move to Juventus. The likes of David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Lucas Perez could also follow the Polish goalkeeper out of the Emirates exit door.

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