Liverpool remains Thomas Lemar's first choice after rejecting new Monaco deal

The Reds made a £78m bid for Lemar in 2017 and are likely to return for him in the summer

Liverpool are monitoring the situation of Monaco's Thomas Lemar, after the 22-year-old attacker turned down a new contract at the French club.

Jurgen Klopp had wanted to bring in the winger this January due to the decision to sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, but Monaco were completely unwilling to let him go in the middle of the season, after a summer that saw their 2017 title-winning team stripped apart.

It is still seen as inevitable that Lemar will go at some point, and his unwillingness to sign a new deal weakens Monaco's position. Liverpool are likely to return in the summer, having had a £78m bid rejected in 2017.

Arsenal similarly had interest at that point and almost signed Lemar late on August in a deal that could have then allowed Alexis Sanchez to go to Manchester City, but the player got cold feet. It is understood his favoured destination remains Anfield.