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Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim says they have no intention of selling Thomas Lemar to Liverpool during the January window.

The France international has been viewed as a potential replacement if Philippe Coutinho leaves Anfield for Barcelona this month.

Liverpool tried to sign the 22-year-old attacker last summer but couldn’t agree a deal with Monaco and after late interest from Arsenal he ended up staying put.

“Monaco are not in the habit of making big sales in the winter,” Jardim said.

“It’s our strategy. The players understand and they know how it goes here.”

Monaco are currently second in Ligue One and keen to hold on to their top talent until the end of the season.

Jardim’s comments back up the words of vice-president Vadim Vasilyev who in October spoke about Liverpool’s pursuit of Lemar last summer and said they wouldn’t sell him in January.

“Liverpool were really interested,” he said.

“But it was Arsenal that was really close to finalising the deal. At the same time it was just too late, not enough time, to really follow up on this deal.

“Not all the elements of the puzzle fell in place. I’m very happy he stayed with us. For us, we need a player like Thomas Lemar. He’s very important to our team.

“Definitely next summer will be something to look at, although you know in football there are no guarantees. I think it would be fair to say Thomas will have a fair chance to an exit next year.

“January, in football, never say never, but this is not what we’re thinking of, this is really not in our plans. January doesn’t seem like the right time for major changes in the team.”