Barcelona Transfer News: Thomas Lemar Wants Blaugrana Move in Latest Rumours

AS Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar would reportedly prefer a summer move to Barcelona than to a Premier League club in a potential blow for Liverpool and Arsenal.

According to Steve Bates of the Sunday People (h/t the Sunday Mirror), the France international has made it known the Camp Nou is his favoured destination in the summer should he leave the Ligue 1 club.

"Despite paying £145 million for Kop star Philippe Coutinho, Barcelona have Lemar on their wishlist and see him as one of the best emerging talents in Europe," Bates reported. "And as they rebuild after losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, Lemar is hoping Barcelona hand him a dream move this summer."

As Bates noted, both Arsenal and Liverpool have been strongly linked with a possible swoop for Lemar, who has previously been valued at an eye-watering £90 million.

The Monaco man is one of the brightest talents in French football and is one of the few star players who remained with the Monegasques in the summer following their remarkable title win in 2016-17.

As these Squawka Football numbers show, Lemar enjoyed a brilliant campaign:

With the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Benjamin Mendy leaving ahead of this season, Monaco have found things tougher this term and sit in fourth in the Ligue 1 table.

Lemar has had more responsibility thrust upon him this season, although he's not dealt with those extra expectations consistently well.

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In 2017-18 in Ligue 1, the 22-year-old has still been able to muster two goals and four assists. But his decision-making has been sloppy, and when used in a central berth, he's not had a sustained impact on matches. Still, there's no doubt there's major potential there.

The man who spotted the France international as a youngster for SM Caen, Philippe Tranchant, told Tom Williams that Lemar is the type of character who would raise his game should he join a big club:

Barcelona would be an intriguing option for the midfielder, especially given the riches they boast in his area of the pitch.

In addition to new acquisition Coutinho, they already have Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Paulinho, Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez and Sergi Roberto as options to play ahead of Sergio Busquets in a midfield three. 

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Lemar would arguably be a better fit for Liverpool or Arsenal. For the Reds, he would be an option to fill Coutinho's former role in either the central area or off the left wing, where the Monaco man was so effective last season. The Gunners may need to bring in some extra creativity, especially with Mesut Ozil's contract set to expire in the summer.

Signing another midfielder, especially one in Lemar's style, would feel a little rapacious on the part of the Blaugrana. Although if they were to make a move for the Monaco man, it's easy to see why the youngster would prefer the switch to Spain.