Arsenal told they have to pay big for Lemar

Arsene Wenger will have to smash Arsenal’s transfer record for the second time in a month to sign Thomas Lemar, from John Cross in Shanghai.

The Monaco winger remains Wenger’s No1 target but the French club have stuck an £80m price tag on his head which is designed to scare clubs off.

Gunners boss Wenger believes a deal can be done - but will also have to begin a clear-out to shake-up the squad.

Arsenal paid £42.5m for Mesut Ozil in 2013, then £52m for Alexandre Lacazette earlier this month.

Now they could have to go through that new barrier to get Lemar who is understood to be keen to move to the Emirates.