Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Thomas Lemar and Lucas Perez

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly "convinced" Thomas Lemar wants to join his team this summer and is ready to make a third bid for the AS Monaco winger.

Meanwhile, striker Lucas Perez won't travel with the Gunners on their pre-season tour of Australia as he mulls a return to La Liga, per reports from Spain.

John Cross of the Daily Mirror detailed how much Wenger is prepared to spend to get a deal for Lemar done:

"Wenger has already seen bids of £30million and the latest £40m offer turned down by Monaco but Arsenal are refusing to give up as they believe they can get their man. It could see another mega deal for Arsenal who are willing to pay £45m-plus to try to get Lemar which would be the second time they have beaten their old transfer record this window."

Lemar is Wenger's main target in the wide areas, even at the expense of Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, according to Cross. However, Matt Spiro of beIN Sports believes it's not necessarily a case of Lemar or Mahrez for the Gunners this summer:

Instead, Spiro believes Lemar boasts different qualities Arsenal may be after:

It's clear Wenger is a huge admirer of Lemar, and his confidence about getting a deal done may be well-founded after Cross revealed discussions between the parties have already taken place: "Lemar's representatives have held talks with Monaco and Arsenal in trying to get the deal done with the biggest obstacle being the French club do not want to sell all of their best players."

Cross isn't the only one reporting talks have occurred between Lemar's people and Arsenal. In fact, The Sun's Warren Haughton recently said Lemar's agents have even agreed terms with the Gunners but also pointed out Monaco are reluctant sellers.

The idea Monaco don't want to sell is somewhat understandable, especially since star striker Kylian Mbappe is being pursued by a host of clubs.

Mbappe is another mooted Arsenal target, with Spanish source Diario Gol (h/t Joel Watson of the Daily Star) reporting the Gunners and Paris Saint-Germain have both bid £124 million for the 18-year-old.

Yet it's PSG who are stepping up their interest and are ready to offer Mbappe a massive wage hike, per Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News HQ:

It makes sense for Monaco to want to keep Lemar, just as it makes sense for Arsenal to be so keen to sign him. The 21-year-old is a tireless runner off the ball, one who can create chances and score goals from both central positions and wide areas, much in the manner of former Gunners star Freddie Ljungberg.

Wenger may face a long road to sign Lemar, but the rumours just won't go away. Nor, seemingly, will Arsenal's interest.

One player who might go away from Arsenal this summer is Perez. He has been left out of the club's upcoming tour of Australia, per Spanish source El Desmarque (h/t Andy Ha of Football.London).

The reports say Perez will remain at the Gunners' London Colney training complex "while he considers offers from Spain." Ha also named the suitor from La Liga most keen on signing the 28-year-old Perez: "It is understood that Perez's former club Deportivo La Coruna want to re-sign the forward, but Arsenal will not sell the player for less than the £17 million fee they paid for him last summer."

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Perez didn't feature in Wenger's plans much last season, appearing in just 11 Premier League games, according to WhoScored.com. He was often left out of the side despite boasting pace, versatility and a keen eye for goal.

It will be tougher still for Perez to feature for Arsenal in the 2017/18 season after the north London club signed Alexandre Lacazette in a club-record deal. The ex-Olympique Lyonnais ace has joined Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez among Wenger's options up front.

There is likely to be no place for Perez, who won't even get a chance on the flanks if the Gunners do manage to wrap up a deal for Lemar.