Monaco CEO: Arsenal target Thomas Lemar will not be sold

Thomas Lemar won't amount to anything more than just a reported Arsenal target this summer.

The coveted AS Monaco winger has been linked with Arsenal throughout the summer, with the Premier League side reportedly producing two unsuccessful bids.

However, plans for a third will likely be shelved after Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev ended speculation by insisting Lemar, along with holding midfielder Fabinho, will remain with the French champion by the time the Ligue 1 season kicks off.

"We have kept all of the key players that we intended to keep," Vasilyev said, according to beIN Sports.

"Fabinho is a must-have player in midfield who was being courted by all the major clubs. I will also address speculation about Lemar: he is staying with us. We have discussed this.

"Both these players have tremendous talent and are essential for our team.

"We must not await further departures, rather arrivals."

With Lemar off the market, Arsenal, who has already completed deals for Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac may turn its attention to Leicester City and revive its pursuit of former PFA Player of the Year award winner Riyad Mahrez, who has already publicly expressed his desire to move on.

Meanwhile, Vasilyev also refuted suggestions that star forward Kylian Mbappe is close to leaving Monaco after Real Madrid reportedly submitted a bid worth €180 million to sign the 18-year-old.

Instead, he revealed that the club is already in the process of trying to sign Mbappe to a contract extension despite receiving substantial offers for the French international.