Huge development in Liverpool bid to sign Lemar after cash-plus-player offer - reports

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Published on:

29 Aug 2017, 7:28 am

By Harry Sykes

Liverpool have been given a huge boost in their bid to sign Thomas Lemar from Monaco by Thursday after a deal was agreed for his possible replacement, according to a report.

French news outlet L'Equipe claimed early on Tuesday afternoon that the Merseyside giants have offered £74.3million in cash plus Divock Origi on loan for this season.

It is said that the payment will be split into two instalments, £46.5million now and the remaining £27.8million next summer.

French site Get French Football reported soon afterwards that Monaco have agreed a deal with Lazio for Keita Balde and he is set to undergo a medical on Tuesday evening.

Like Lemar, Senegal international Balde is a winger who plays predominantly on the left flank and he appears to be a replacement for the France international rather than Kylian Mbappe, who has agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Breaking | Deal done between Lazio & AS Monaco for Keita Baldé, player is due to undergo a medical at 17:00 CET in Monaco, local time. (SA)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 29, 2017

Remains to be seen if Keita Baldé is a replacement for Kylian Mbappé or Thomas Lemar...
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 29, 2017

L'Equipe report that Liverpool tabled the new bid for the France international on Monday and are now awaiting a response from Vadim Vasilyev, the vice president of AS Monaco.

The French champions have rejected two previous bids from Liverpool for Lemar of £55million and £74million.

The club have now included striker Origi as a makeweight in the deal after he slipped down the pecking order at Anfield in the opening weeks of the season.

The Belgium international has a fine record for Liverpool since signing in 2014, scoring 21 goals in 77 matches.

Lemar has been a long-term target for Arsenal, but the Gunners have seen a number of bids rejected and manager Arsene Wenger last week said that the transfer was "dead".

Lemar was in dazzling form for Monaco last season as they won the Ligue 1 title.

He netted 14 goals and supplied 17 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.

Football Insider Verdict

What a signing Lemar would be. Super-quick, super-skilful and with his best years ahead of him, this creator and scorer would add another cutting edge to an already impressive front line. Liverpool blew a tepid Arsenal away on Sunday, but all visitors won't be so meek and last season showed how they struggled to break down well-organised defences. Klopp is a master of coaching attacking teams, and Lemar would provide him with another potentially dazzling forward.

In other Liverpool transfer news, Liverpool lead the chase to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain following a major development but told they must pay £40million and £1 to seal the deal.

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