Thursday 29 June 2017 15:12, UK
Tottenham have no plans to battle with arch-rivals Arsenal for Monaco star Thomas Lemar, Sky Sports News HQ understands.
French newspaper L'Equipe have claimed Spurs are preparing to make an offer for the 21-year-old but they have not been pursuing a move for the player this summer.
Sky sources reported on Wednesday that Arsenal had a bid in the region of £30m rejected for Lemar - a player Monaco are reluctant to sell amidst a host of their other first-team players being wanted by other clubs.
Their interest is expected to drive up Monaco's valuation of Lemar and, due to the cost of their new stadium, Spurs are not in a position to expend huge transfer fees this summer.
Sky sources understand Spurs early transfer window efforts concentrate on a new number 10, with Everton's Ross Barkley their top target, and a potential replacement for right-back Kyle Walker should he join Manchester City.
Mauricio Pochettino is understood to be looking at two potential options to replace Walker, one of which is Porto's Ricardo Pereira.
Arsenal, meanwhile, also had a bid rejected for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and both he and Lemar remain among Arsene Wenger's top targets along with another Monaco player; Kylian Mbappe.
The Ligue 1 winners and Champions League semi-finalists are facing a difficult summer in which up to six of their key players are targets for others including left-back Benjamin Mendy, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and right-back Djibril Sidibe.
Manchester City have already signed playmaker Bernardo Silva and Pep Guardiola wants both Mendy and striker Mbappe to follow, while Bakayoko is the subject of talks over a move to Chelsea and both Fabinho and Sidibe are also reportedly of interest to other clubs.
