According to Goal, Atletico Madrid have transfer-listed Thomas Lemar and have tasked sporting director Andrea Berta and agent Jorge Mendes with the job of locating a suitor. The Sun say Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in the 24-year-old, but I believe we should avoid a move this summer.
Lemar has been a flop at Atleti
Goal say Atleti paid €72m (£66m) to sign Lemar from AS Monaco in 2018, but he’s only scored three goals and made six assists in 72 appearances in all competitions. The French international failed to score or make an assist in 22 Liga games last season and Atleti have finally lost patience with him.
Lemar’s woeful form (no goal or assist since April 2019), lofty wages (€120k-per-week/€6.24m-a-year) and sky-high valuation (€60m) has put clubs off making bids, however, so it may have to be a loan-to-buy deal.
Carlo Ancelotti has Richarlison, James Rodriguez, Bernard, Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott at his disposal, so does he really need another wide-man?
Iwobi and Walcott have uncertain futures as they’re coming off the back of disappointing seasons, but we may need to offload some existing players before bringing more in.
Our money is better spent elsewhere
Rather than sign an out-of-favour winger to compete with six other players, we still need to strengthen between the sticks, at left-back and centre-back. We’re trying to sign Rico Henry from Brentford to compete with Lucas Digne for a starting place and have made a move for Fiyako Tomori from Chelsea to accompany Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate at centre-back.
Lemar is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League, but he doesn’t present value for money right now. We’ve enjoyed a bright start to the campaign with two wins from two games and a victory in the EFL Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, so we’re looking very good early on.
Summary
Lemar would have been worth signing when he was at Monaco, but he’s spiralled in recent years and wouldn’t improve our squad this season. We should avoid for now.
In other news, will Everton return for Sergio Romero before October 5?