Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger Talks Thomas Lemar, Jack Wilshere Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club made a €100 million (£92 million) offer for AS Monaco's Thomas Lemar on the final day of the transfer window.

Speaking to Telefoot (h/t Kelechi Nkoro), the Arsenal boss also revealed they retain an interest in the France international:

As Sky Sports News reported, the Gunners made their move for the midfielder on Thursday ahead of the transfer deadline. Liverpool are also said to have been keen on the player, as well as being Lemar's preferred option. Eventually, time ran out before either side was able to complete a move.

Bleacher Report's Nick Akerman thinks it's strange to see Wenger speak so candidly about signing the Monaco man:

However, it appears Arsenal made a big play for the midfielder despite Wenger saying just days before that any hopes of securing the Frenchman were "dead," per Riath Al-Samarrai of MailOnline.

Had Arsenal brought in the 21-year-old for that amount, it would have far surpassed the club-record fee paid for Alexandre Lacazette earlier in the summer. Per BBC Sport, the striker could end up costing the Gunners £52.6 million.

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While Wenger has made it clear the remarkable offer for Lemar was on the table, Joe.co.uk doubted whether the club was truly willing to pay that much for the midfielder:

It would be no surprise to see the Gunners keep tabs on Lemar, as he's one of the most exciting prospects in European football.

He showcased as much on Thursday following the flurry of transfer speculation, netting twice for France in an emphatic win over the Netherlands. It appears as though he has the talent and temperament to go to the top of the game; that will be why the likes of Arsenal are willing to spend big on him.

Jack Wilshere Rejected Birmingham City Offer

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According to Tom Hopkinson of the Sunday Mirror, Jack Wilshere turned down the chance to leave Arsenal for Birmingham City on Thursday.

Hopkinson noted the Midlands club were so keen on getting the midfielder that they were ready to match his £90,000-per-week wages, with manager Harry Redknapp "willing the throw the kitchen sink at the 25-year-old."

But the midfielder is said to have been unwilling to drop down into the second tier of English football, and he remained with the Gunners past Thursday's deadline.

Bleacher Report's Rob Blanchette noted how much Wilshere's career has stalled in recent years:

As 101 Great Goals relayed, the midfielder recently joked about his lack of action on social media:

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Jack Wilshere comments on Tyrone Mings' Instagram post  pic.twitter.com/kb05Oj9CCQ

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) September 2, 2017"

Wilshere spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, and while he impressed in spells, his campaign was curtailed when he suffered a broken leg in April. Sadly for the Arsenal academy graduate, it's a familiar story.

Wilshere looks to be a long way off the Arsenal first team, even with the struggles of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey taken into account. In training and under-23 football, the midfielder needs to prove his fitness and show the talent that made so many so excited about his potential can still be tapped into.