MIKEL ARTETA is reportedly ready to reignite Arsenal’s interest in Thomas Lemar with a January loan bid for the Atletico Madrid flop.
Yet to score or make an assist this season, the Frenchman is strongly linked with a move out of La Liga.
According to AS, Lyon join the Gunners in preparing a loan offer with a purchase option embedded.
Memphis Depay’s injury has hastened the Ligue 1 side’s need for a fresh attacker and Lemar, 24, broke through in the division with Monaco before a 63million switch to Madrid.
In his 18 months at Atleti, the winger has come to underline the club’s struggles in the transfer market.
Diego Simeone’s draw-happy side are seven points off the pace in La Liga with Lemar subbed off early in the second-half in each of their last two matches.
Many feel that could spell the end of his time at the Wanda Metropolitano with Arsenal in need of fresh spark having netted just once in three outings.
New boss Arteta put his faith in Mesut Ozil and Reiss Nelson in the debut draw at Bournemouth, placing Alexandre Lacazette up top to force top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang onto the wing.
Going in for Lemar would mean rekindling an interest first seen in the summer of 2018 when Atleti signed the winger.
Reports of a renewed bid first emerged earlier in the month with Arsenal also said to be looking at RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland is reportedly seen as an ideal fit for Arteta’s system but the Germans want to hand their star a new long-term contract.
