Liverpool Reportedly Challenge Bayern Munich for Monaco’s “Next Martial”

With the football season nearly over, it means transfer season is growing near and the rumours are really going to start piling up. Today’s new rumour to add to the pile comes from France, where L’Equipe claim Liverpool have made an official enquiry as the first step towards a bid for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is a hugely promising talent, scoring five goals and adding five assists in 32 total appearances this season while playing across the supporting band. Though he isn’t a striker, that return combined with his age and current club have L’Equipe asking if Monaco have another Anthony Martial on their hands.

They believe that Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Manchester City are also keeping tabs on the young and talented Guadeloupe-born French striker. Rumour has it that despite not having made an officially enquiry yet, it is Bayern who are frontrunner’s for the youngster’s services and that Carlo Ancelotti will look to sign him in the summer.

If Liverpool, though, are as interested as L’Equipe claim, it’s a slight surprise—no matter how talented Lemar is. Mainly because there are rumours that Monaco would like to get a similar fee to the one brought in last summer for Martial, who cost Manchester United £36M up front with add-ons that could take the deal to £58M.

At that price, it’s almost impossible to see Liverpool seriously bidding for any player as young and unproven as Lemar. Though it’s also similarly difficult to imagine Bayern Munich paying that much for him, and similarly Atletico Madrid. Which perhaps leaves Manchester City as the only reasonable destination amongst linked clubs.

Costs aside, there would also be questions about where Lemar fits in at Anfield given he plays in the one area the club have true depth at. If, as rumoured, a player like Mario Götze is available for around £25M, he would be too good a bargain to pass up despite that Liverpool already have Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, and Adam Lallana.

For potentially more than twice that and far less proven to boot, Thomas Lemar is more intriguing link than realistic—the sort of player Liverpool fans should perhaps feel good about being seriously linked to again, even if it’s nearly impossible to believe there’s any truth to the rumour.