ARSENAL are closing in on a £45million deal for Monaco star Thomas Lemar.

The Gunners have been desperate to land the French international and SunSport understands the Premier League side have finally made a breakthrough.

6 Arsenal are closing in on £45million Thomas Lemar Credit: Getty Images

6 Arsene Wenger looks to have finally landed Thomas Lemar Credit: AP:Associated Press

Arsene Wenger has already had bids rejected for the 21-year-old as Monaco were demanding £80m for a player they signed from Caen two years ago.

Monaco were hoping the huge numbers quoted would deter Arsenal and help them keep Lemar for another season on the premise his value would increase further to spark a bidding war.

SunSport revealed earlier this month Lemar has already agreed terms with Arsenal and told the French champions to allow him to move to North London this summer.

Lemar will be Wenger's third addition at the Emirates this summer as the French coach looks to lead the club back into title contention.

Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac have been recruited and the arrival of the Monaco star will be a huge boost for the Gunners, who would take their summer spending to £97m.

Lemar featured for Monaco in their last pre-season game at Benfica and will hope to get the green light to complete his switch to the Premier League before they face Paris-Saint Germain in Morocco this Saturday in the Trophee des champions.

6 Lemar on pre-season duty in Switzerland with Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe Credit: Getty Images

6 Lemar could reignite battle with Harry Kane in North London derby in September Credit: Getty Images

6 Tiemoue Bakayoko left Monaco to join Chelsea Credit: Getty Images

6 Benjamin Mendy has left Monaco to join Manchester City Credit: Twitter/@benmendy23

It had been thought Monaco would stop their player exodus and fight to keep the wide man for their title defence next season.

But the winger is set to follow Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy, Valere Germain and Kylian Mbappe through the Stade Louis II exit door.

What could Lemar bring to fantasy football? Impressive 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Monaco last season

in all competitions for Monaco last season No player recorded more assists in Ligue 1 last season

in Ligue 1 last season WhoScored rating of 7.48 in Ligue 1 - only four players ranked higher

in Ligue 1 - only four players ranked higher Sign up to play Dream Team now

However the red and whites will continue the policy of buying or producing young players through their academy and selling to Europe’s elite.

The club feel with such a small fanbase that any backlash from the supporters is something they can handle with minimal fuss.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s live transfer blog