Monaco deal Lemar blow to Liverpool and Arsenal

Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim has said that his side will not allow Thomas Lemar to leave the club this January.

The France international midfielder has been linked with a move to Liverpool and Arsenal in the coming weeks, yet the Portuguese has suggested that the 22-year-old will not be allowed to depart Stade Louis II.

Additionally, Jardim indicated that Fabinho, who has been a long-term target of Manchester United, will also be thwarted if he wishes to depart over the coming weeks.

"Monaco are not in the habit of making big sales in the winter. It's our strategy. The players understand and they know how it goes here," Jardim told the press.

Monaco, who currently lie second in the Ligue 1 standings, nine points behind Paris Saint-Germain, posted record sales in the summer.

Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy both departed for Manchester City in two separate deals that totalled close to €110 million, while Kylian Mbappe was allowed to depart on loan to PSG, albeit with a buy-out clause that will see him fetch up to €180 million in the summer. 

Lemar and Fabinho were two players who were not allowed to depart, however, with Monaco rejecting the advances of suitors towards the duo. Lemar appeared particularly close to leaving, but Arsenal had a bid of close to €70m rebuffed by the principality side.

Any deal for the winger, who has also been used as a playmaker behind Radamel Falcao this season, would likely be in excess of that sum.