Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are keen on signing Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe but fears the club will be priced out of a move for the hotshot.
The Gunners boss has previously admitted he has long held an interest in the teenager who has enjoyed a stunning season scoring 23 goals.
The forward has helped fired Monaco to the top of Ligue 1 in France and into the last four of the Champions League and is expected to be in-demand this summer.
Reports have claimed Real Madrid are to ready to spend £85m on Mbappe and Wenger admits Arsenal hold an interest in the forward, who has been likened to Thierry Henry.
“Of course [we’re following him],” he told SFR Sport. “It would be hypocritical and a lie to say we’re not following him. But he’s perhaps already in the category of clubs who perhaps have more financial potential than us.”
Wenger also compared Mbappe’s situation with that of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez who have also been linked with summer moves.
“I think they [Ozil & Sanchez] should stay here because they are two world-class players and it’s difficult to find world-class players even when you have a lot of money because a lot of clubs have a lot of money and few players can make the difference,” he explained.
“Look at Mbappe at Monaco. The whole of Europe is already onto him — he’s had 20 games — because everything is known immediately now, so you can’t allow yourself to lose your best players.
“And not only us in our situation — you can’t lose them, you have to find new ones, bring them in. So we have two conditions: one, to keep them, and two, bring in other great players.”
Mbappe is one of the hottest properties in Europe right now but few clubs will be able to compete with the might of Real Madrid should they come calling.