Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits interest in Kylian Mbappe but he could be priced out by Monaco's whopping £100m demands

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is interested in Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe but says the price tag will make any deal difficult.

Manchester City have already balked at the £100million asking price for the 18-year-old, who has 21 goals in 25 appearances this season.

'Of course [we're targeting Mbappe],' Wenger told SFR Sport. 'It would be hypocritical and a lie to say we're not following him.

Kylian Mbappe is wanted by Arsenal as well as a host of other top clubs across Europe

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had admitted he is monitoring the Monaco forward

'But he's perhaps already in the category of clubs who perhaps have more financial potential than us.'

Manchester United and Chelsea remain interested while Real Madrid are tipped to offer £85million plus add-ons for Mbappe though Monaco believe they can hold onto him for another season.

Monaco are braced for multiple offers for their players this summer with Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Benjamin Mendy, Thomas Lemar and Fabinho drawing particular interest.

Last weekend Monaco vice president Vadim Vasilyev spoke to Telefoot and insisted they did not need to sell, hence their high asking prices.

However, the French club's massive £100million price tag could put suitors off

'We do not need to sell, the budget is balanced,' he said. 'For the moment, not a single player has told me that they want to leave. 

'We will discuss it all in a relaxed manner. But with the 2018 World Cup, not Thomas, not Kylian, nor maybe Bernardo want to leave. 

'It is not the right time. We are going to do everything to keep them. I can already tell you that Monaco will have a very competitive next season.'