Thomas Lemar is left out of Atletico Madrid squad for Leganes stalemate... as Arsenal continue to hold talks over signing France international
- Thomas Lemar was not in the Atletico Madrid squad against Leganes on Sunday
- The France winger has been linked with Arsenal after failing to score this season
- Arsenal have until Friday to sign the player, who Atletico paid £52m for in 2018
- Off-form Atleti were held to a goalless home draw by Leganes in La Liga
Arsenal target Thomas Lemar was left out of Atletico Madrid's squad as the Spanish side's poor form continued with a goalless draw at home to second-bottom Leganes in La Liga on Sunday.
Lemar missed training through illness this week and played no part in the stalemate at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as the fourth-placed hosts failed to score for the third time in four matches.
The Gunners are thought to have entered talks with Lemar and his agent, although Atletico coach Diego Simeone will want to recoup as much of the £52m the club paid Monaco for Lemar in 2018 as possible.
Thomas Lemar has not played for Atletico Madrid in 2020 and has not found the net since May
Atletico coach Diego Simeone left Lemar out of his squad for the 0-0 draw at home to Leganes
The 24-year-old has been unable to help Atletico improve on a paucity of goals that has seen the Champions League contenders score the joint fewest of any team outside the bottom six in La Liga.
His last competitive strike was against fourth-tier side UE Sant Andreu in the Copa del Rey more than eight months ago, although the tricky wideman set up six goals last season as Atleti finished second, eight points ahead of Real Madrid.
Arsenal and Spurs were interested in Lemar before Atletico signed him for £52m in June 2018
The winger has rarely hit top form for the La Liga side, playing 49 times and scoring three goals
New Gunners coach Mikel Arteta is yet to make a signing and could see Lemar, who has played 21 times for France and was part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup, as a creator for a side that has won just six times in the Premier League this season.
Lemar's first France goals arrived with a brace against the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying
Simeone has been linked with a succession of players but is looking to bring in funds after spending £430m on transfers, wages and loan fees for the likes of £113m Portugal striker Joao Felix and Kieran Trippier, who joined for £26m from Spurs in July.
Having been a point behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in November, Atletico are now seven points adrift of the top two after stuttering against their relegation-threatened local rivals.
The draw came three days after they crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the round of 32 stage with an embarrassing extra-time defeat at third-division club Cultural Leonesa.
Most watched Sport videos
- Team USA serenade A'ja Wilson as WNBA star celebrates 28th birthday
- Gender Row boxer hits back at IBA
- Letslie Tebogo delivers savage remark after winning gold
- Noah Lyles' Olympic rival speaks out after the 200m final
- Awkward moment Anthony Ammirati gets his crotch stuck on crossbar
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson shares a glimpse of her training
- Adorable footage of a tiny Simone Biles at junior competition
- OnlyFans Olympian Alisha Newman shows off pole vault outfit choices
- Rebeca Andrade reacts to Simone Biles' bow to her after winning gold
- Paris 2024 Olympics: Day 12 highlights
- Lamecha Girma seen in hospital after nasty steeplechase fall
- Olympian boxer makes 'controversial' gesture