Report says alleged Arsenal and Everton target’s £110k-a-week wages are stopping move

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Thomas Lemar’s mammoth wages are making it almost impossible for Atletico Madrid to sell the reported Everton and Arsenal target, according to Marca.

While no one could question that Diego Simeone’s place in the pantheon of La Liga legends, after transforming Los Colchoneros from the poor-relations of Madrid into a bonafide European superpower, one giant question mark continues to hang above the two-time Champions League finalist.

When it comes to blooding big-money signings, particularly attacking ones, Simeone fails more often than not.

Just look at Lemar’s Atletico career.

Since arriving in the Spanish capital for a staggering £63 million, the France international has been a shadow of the creative force who’s pinpoint passes inspired Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2017.

In two years, Lemar has started just 32 games, producing three goals and three more assists.

In hindsight, perhaps this free spirit of a footballer should not have joined forces with a coach who makes Jose Mourinho look like Znedek Zeman.

As Alessio Cerci, Nico Gaitan, Vitolo Machin and arguably even Joao Felix will tell you, Simeone is not a man who readily indulges passengers or playmakers.

Le10 Sport claimed last month that Everton were interested in offering World Cup winner Lemar the chance to rebuild his reputation under Carlo ‘the forward whisperer’ Ancelotti – a man who has as much in common with Simeone as James Blunt does with Slipknot.

Arsenal are also still interested in a man Arsene Wenger famously launched a £92 million bid for on the final day of the 2017 transfer window (AS in May).

But with Lemar’s £110,000-a-week wages putting off potential suitors, Marca suggests that Angel Correa could be the man Atletico cash in on instead.

Lemar is stuck in purgatory. God help him.

The fact that Simeone didn’t even bring his £63m forward off the bench when Atletico needed a goal in their Champions League quarter-final defeat to RB Leipzig spoke louder than words ever could.