Arsene Wenger and Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis seen in Nice as they weigh-up £110m bid for Monaco's Kylian Mbappe

  • Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis at Cote D'Azur airport in Nice on Monday
  • Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe is wanted by a host of Europe's top clubs
  • Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United are also interested

Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis were spotted at Cote D'Azur airport in Nice on Monday as speculation heightens that Arsenal are preparing a bid for Monaco's £110million-rated striker Kylian Mbappe.

The 18-year-old has interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Mbappe said he will make a decision on his future after France finish their friendlies against Paraguay, Sweden and England in the next 10 days. 

Arsene Wenger (right) and Ivan Gazidis were spotted at Cote D'Azur airport in Nice on Monday

Arsene Wenger (right) and Ivan Gazidis were spotted at Cote D'Azur airport in Nice on Monday

The Arsenal boss was also pictured sitting down to lunch on the French coast during his visit

The Arsenal boss was also pictured sitting down to lunch on the French coast during his visit

Arsenal are considering a £110-million move for Monaco's outstanding forward Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe is currently on international duty with France

Arsenal are considering a £110-million move for Monaco's outstanding forward Kylian Mbappe

Arsenal have set aside at least €100m (£87.5m) for his recruitment and, ironically, were in talks with the striker and his family this time last year when he was out of contact and could have signed for about £230,000 under FIFA's compensation rules.


Arsenal hopes of persuading Mbappe to move and for Monaco to let him go rest on the long-standing relationship they have with the player and his family and their promise of rapid development under Wenger.

As previously reported, Arsenal will tell Mbappe that he would play as centre-forward and would be in the first team - which are options Real Madrid cannot guarantee. At the Bernabeu there is a danger he would be forced into wide positions and rarely feature, given that he could be competing with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

The decisiveness with which Arsenal have approached Monaco this early with an informal bid of €100m, as revealed by the French paper L'Equipe last week, is an indication that chief executive Ivan Gazidis is determined the club don't leave transfer business until the last minute, as has been the case often in the past and a sign of the changes agreed after Wenger signed a new two-year deal. 

Arsenal have set aside at least £87.5m to lure Mbappe, but could've got him for £230K last year

Arsenal have set aside at least £87.5m to lure Mbappe, but could've got him for £230K last year

Wenger was in talks with the player and his family and could have got the starlet cheap

Wenger was in talks with the player and his family and could have got the starlet cheap

Mbappe was out of contract and could have signed for £230K under FIFA compensation rules

Mbappe was out of contract and could have signed for £230K under FIFA compensation rules

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