Arsenal transfer news: Real Madrid move for Mbappe could stop Gunners landing Thomas Lemar

The Spanish giants are closing in on a world-record £160million move for Kylian Mbappe.

The Monaco striker, 18, has been on the Gunners’ wish-list but he’s now set for the Bernabeu.

Madrid's mega-money offer would see Mbappe sign a six-year deal and be blow number one for Arsene Wenger.

While Wenger knows a move to sign Mbappe was always an ambitious one, he’ll still disappointed at not landing his man.

But it’s the knock-on effects that are likely to be felt more at the Emirates.

Monaco have already sold Bernardo Silva, Bernard Mendy and Tiemoue Bakayoko this summer and Mbappe could be the fourth big sale.

It means Monaco will have made around £300million from outgoing transfers and the chances of chairman Dmitry Rybolovlev agreeing to sell another would be drastically reduced.

Arsenal still want Monaco wideman Thomas Lemar but that would be hugely unlikely to go through if Mbappe departs.

That will force Arsene Wenger back to the drawing board in his search for a winger and prove to be the second blow.

The third could be the biggest and it involves the future of Alexis Sanchez.

Pep Guardiola had wanted Mbappe himself and Manchester City was a realistic destination as they have the financial muscle to compete with Real.

But with Mbappe closing in on Madrid, Guardiola will have to re-evaluate his transfer targets.

That is likely to lead them to the door of Sanchez, whose future at the Emirates remains uncertain.

He has yet to sign a new deal and is understood to be open to a move to the Etihad where he’d be more likely to challenge for the title.