Monaco insist Arsenal target Thomas Lemar will not leave as they bid to tie Kylian Mbappe down to a new deal

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Monaco will not sell Thomas Lemar this summer, according to the club's vice president Vadim Vasilyev. 

Lemar is a target for Arsenal, who are said to be preparing a £50million bid having had two previous offers turned down. 

However Vasilyev says neither Lemar, nor fellow midfielder Fabinho - a Manchester City target - will be leaving the Stade Louis II before September 1.

Monaco will not sell Thomas Lemar this summer, according to the club's vice president

 Vadim Vasilyev also said they are trying to agree a new contract with striker Kylian Mbappe

Vasilyev said at a press conference that Lemar, a £50m Arsenal target, will not be allowed to go

Speaking at a Monaco press conference, Vasilyev said: 'Fabinho and Lemar are essential players, they will stay with us.'

He also played down talk of a deal having been reached with Real Madrid for teenage prodigy Kylian Mbappe, instead saying they are looking at agreeing a new contract. 

He said of Mbappe: 'I assure you that there is no agreement with any club. We are in the process of discussing a contract extension. I hope we reach an agreement.'

Vasilyev says neither Lemar, nor fellow midfielder Fabinho will be leaving Stade Louis II

Monaco have already seen a number of their best players leave this summer, with last year's Ligue 1 title winning side taken apart in a series of deals. 

Midfielder Bernardo Silva and full back Benjamin Mendy have moved to City, while midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has joined Chelsea for £40m.

Monaco, who reached last season's Champions League semi-finals, have also seen Nabil Dirar and Valerie Germain move to Fenerbahce and Marseille respectively.