Deal Closed! Chelsea suffer major setback in pursuit of star player

Premier League Champions Chelsea look ready to miss out on French star Thomas Lemar in the New year with AS Monaco vice-president refusing to offload the talented forward in the winter.

According to The Mirror, the French forward will stay with the French Ligue 1 team until at least the conclusion of the season.

The club vice-president said the sales of top players is not on their agenda. He confirmed the club have never spoken to Thomas Lemar or his representative about the likelihood of a winter exit.

North London giant Arsenal and Premier League Champions Chelsea have also been strongly linked with the AS Monaco winger, who has been vital to the side’s recent success in the French Ligue 1.

Both German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Catalan side FC Barcelona have also shown interest in the wideman but have been put off by the French clubs £88 million valuation.

Thomas Lemar was one of the players not to depart AS Monaco’s title-winning team throughout the summer transfer window.

French starlet Kylian Mbappe left for Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain, while French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy all earned English Premier League transfer to Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

AS Monaco currently occupy the second position on the Ligue 1 table, nine points adrift rivals Paris Saint-Germain.