Gossip: Lemar wanted Arsenal or Liverpool and more…

Sarah Winterburn

THOMAS HAD NO DOUBTS ABOUT MOVE
Thomas Lemar was keen on joining either Arsenal or Liverpool in the transfer window, despite claims from Arsene Wenger that it was the Frenchman who turned them down, rather than the club.

Now Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev says that it was the French champions who decided that Lemar could not leave after the exits of Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy. He told a Russian news agency:

“Thomas wanted to go to Arsenal and to Liverpool, but we had discussions, and we took a communal decision so that he could stay here. He is a very important player for us. We could not have sold him. It would have affected the entire team and the individuals.”

Next summer then.

 

MESSI WANTS OUT?
It’s everywhere. In Spain and in England there are multiple reports that Lionel Messi is ‘considering his future’ at Barcelona. Now we know very well that he will probably ‘consider his future’ right up to the minute that Barcelona whack an extra few Euros on his new deal, but there will be plenty of headlines before that happens.

Of course, the obvious destination for Messi is Manchester City, with the lure of Pep Guardiola (and appropriately massive wages) being very strong indeed. The word in Spain is that Messi is seriously peed off. Peed off enough to leave his comfort zone? We shall see.

 

TOBY IS A WANTED MAN
It was only a matter of time before Toby Alderweireld noticed that he is one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League and he is paid less than some absolute toss at other clubs. He wants a new and improved contract or he wants out.

His advisor Stijn Francis has said: “When you look at Toby’s statistics, they are impressive. Either he deserves an appropriate contract, or else he should be given a transfer. Seven or eight big European clubs are interested in signing him.

“There are not many central defenders around who can play like he can. But these clubs will have to negotiate with Tottenham’s chairman, Daniel Levy.”

You can almost hear the despair in that last quote.