MONACO have signed Keita Balde – paving the way for Thomas Lemar to join Liverpool.
The Senegal forward joins from Lazio on a five-year-deal worth £28million.
L’AS Monaco est heureux d’annoncer la signature de @keitabalde14 jusqu’en 2022 ! #WelcomeToMonaco pic.twitter.com/jCE6ZGrDrx
— AS Monaco
(@AS_Monaco) August 29, 2017
Balde, 22, plays in a similar role to that of Reds and Arsenal target Lemar.
Liverpool have twice failed in bids for Lemar, 21, as they look to strengthen their squad.
Monaco’s vice president Vadim Vasilyev insisted last month the winger would NOT be sold this summer.
He said: “We have kept all of the key players that we intended to keep.
“I will address speculation relating to the case of Lemar. He is staying with us.
“He is an immense talent and is essential for the team.”
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But Monaco have since agreed a deal to loan strike sensation Kylian Mbappe to Paris Saint-Germain.
Former Manchester City hitman Stevan Jovetic has been drafted in from Inter Milan to replace the France youngster.
And it could be that Monaco have brought in Balde as a replacement for Lemar.
In a similar move, the France international – currently on Les Bleus duty – may simply be a replacement for wantaway Reds star Philippe Coutinho, who looks set to join Barcelona.
Balde scored 16 goals during 39 appearances for Lazio last season.
He was born in Catalonia, Spain and played for Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before joining the Serie A club in 2013.
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