The future of Thomas Lemar was possibly the most dramatic story on transfer deadline day.

Lemar enjoyed a terrific season last year; scoring 14 goals in 55 appearances for a Monaco side that pipped PSG to the Ligue 1 title and reached the Semi-finals of the Champions League.

His performances from midfield attracted the attention of some of the Premier League's top clubs, with both Liverpool and Arsenal making substantial offers in the final hours of the transfer window.

Liverpool were the first to test the waters with a number of bids for the 21-year-old, but Arsenal looked to have pipped them to his signing with a dramatic late offer.

However, after submitting a massive offer reported to be around the €100m mark, it soon became apparent that Arsenal were not going to secure his signature.

Despite receiving such a huge fee for the French International, Monaco were extremely keen to hold on to him for at least another season.

And Monaco's Vice President, Vadim Vasilyev, has revealed why they were so reluctant to let the former Caen man leave.

In an interview with Telegraph Sport, Vasilyev stated: "These offers came late, very late, in the market so once you cannot replace a player they (the offers) become even more difficult to accept.

“We plan and when it’s the last days it’s very difficult.

"It was too late to make all the components work – to find a replacement; reach an agreement.

"It was just too late. But in the end I am very happy because we always wanted to keep Thomas.”

Vasilyev also revealed that Lemar was keen to make the move to the Premier League.

"He wanted to go to the Premier League and I had a few discussions with him and I said ‘stay, stay, stay’ but, of course, when the offers were very, very high, higher than we initially expected then we had to talk, to discuss.

"But in the end we were very happy.”

And admirers of Lemar in the Premier League will have taken note after the Monaco Vice-President also admitted that there was a “fair chance” he would be allowed to leave at the end of the season.

If the Frenchman manages to replicate the form he showed last year, it is likely that there may be another battle for Lemar's signature next summer.