Arsene Wenger explains why Arsenal ended Kylian Mbappe transfer chase

ARSENAL ended their interest in Kylian Mbappe when Monaco told them to pay £164million for the winger, Arsene Wenger has revealed.

10:53, Sun, Sep 3, 2017 | UPDATED: 11:03, Sun, Sep 3, 2017

Kylian Mbappe Arsenal transfer news GETTY

Arsenal wanted to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer

Arsenal were in for Mbappe earlier this summer and were one of the first clubs to make a bid for him.

The Gunners and Real Madrid each saw £87m offers rejected by Ligue 1 champions Monaco.

Mbappe eventually went to PSG on deadline day, with the Paris side signing him on loan for the season with a compulsory £164m (€180m) purchase option at the end of the campaign.

And Wenger told French TV station Telefoot that Arsenal were priced out of the market by Monaco.

"He could become the next Pele. He has no limits. He's 18,” Wenger said.

Arsène Wenger encense @KMbappe : "Il peut être Pelé, il n'a pas de limite dans son jeu" !#GenerationTelefoot #40AnsTelefoot pic.twitter.com/VfQiOPzuAI
— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) September 3, 2017

Arsène Wenger on Kylian Mbappé: "I wanted him too, but €180m is too much for us." (Téléfoot)
— Get French Football (@GFFN) September 3, 2017

"I wanted him too, but €180m is too much for us.”

Real were also knocked back on a move for Mbappe after Bernabeu president Florentino Perez held talks with the player’s father.

As for Arsenal, they continued their pursuit for a new winger and tried to sign Thomas Lemar on transfer deadline day.

A £92m deal was agreed and a move would have seen Alexis Sanchez head to Manchester City.

Lemar declined to leave Monaco but Wenger has pledged to bid for the player again soon.