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Arsenal are growing increasingly confident they could land Kylian Mbappe in a world record deal this summer.

The Monaco striker is the most in demand player in Europe right now with a host of top clubs battling for his signature.

Real Madrid remain firm favourites for the 18-year-old, while reports emerged in France on Thursday that Paris Saint-Germain had tabled a massive offer of €135 million for the France intentional.

But football.london understands that Arsene Wenger remains convinced he can win the race for Mbappe and has in fact grown increasingly confident during the past 48 hours.

So much so that the north London club are preparing a world record bid of their own for the teenage sensation, one that would top the one rumoured to be on the table from PSG.

Mbappe is currently on holiday with his family having held talks with Monaco last week regarding his future.

The Ligue 1 champions want him to stay with the club for another season and are prepared to make him the highest paid player in their history.

But it’s looking increasingly likely that the forward - who scored 24 goals last season during his breakthrough year in France - will move on.

All the talk in Spain is that Madrid have agreed a deal in principle with the player, but Arsenal believe he would favour a move to north London at this stage of his career.

Wenger has made it clear that Mbappe will be his main man at the Emirates and will lead the attack in a new look team which could include his Monaco teammate Thomas Lemar

(Image: Getty Images)

A source close to player told French dailyLe Parisien: “Wenger, he is a great. If Mbappe were to sign for Arsenal tomorrow, it would be for him.

“He knows how to produce youngsters and especially former French international team forwards, Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka.

“Only playing in the Europa League is not an obstacle for him.”

Wenger plans to free up space on the wage bill for the new additions by shifting out the likes of David Ospina, Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Debuchy and possibly Jack Wilshere over the coming weeks.

Wojciech Szczesny could also be sold to Juventus, while Lucas Perez looks set to return to Spain.