Everton 'turn down' former Liverpool transfer target once valued at £92 million

Both Everton and Arsenal reportedly 'turned down' the opportunity to sign Thomas Lemar from Atletico Madrid this summer, prompting him to take a pay cut and sign a fresh deal with the La Liga giants.

The 26-year-old was about to enter the final year of his current contract at the Wanda Metropolitano but recent reports suggest he's agreed fresh terms until 2027 and is set to reduce his wages by 50%. Rumours claim Atletico were open to parting ways with the Frenchman if the right offer came in.

That's according to L'Equipe, who say the Premier League duo were the two 'offered' the chance to sign Lemar but neither made a move for the player.

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Merseyside rivals Liverpool were heavily linked with the winger while he was still at Monaco and reportedly had two bids rejected. In 2017, the Reds were rumoured to have made two offers for Lemar, with one reaching £64.8m.

The Gunners reportedly made an offer of £92 million for the player when he was with the principality club.

Any approach was turned down by the Ligue 1 club and he remained at Monaco for another season before he made the move to Spain in 2018. Monaco and Atletico agreed a £52.7m fee a year later and he's gone on to make over 140 appearances for the club.

Arsenal were also previously linked with Lemar prior to his move to Atletico Madrid, but have seemingly rejected the chance to land the player this time around. Everton have made just one addition to the squad this summer in free agent James Tarkowski, but are yet to replace the departed Richarlison.

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