Arsenal are prepared to use Olivier Giroud as a makeweight in any deal to sign Kylian Mbappé or Alexandre Lacazette.

Manager Arsene Wenger has publicly declared he would like to keep the 30-year-old but the club’s pursuit of a big-name striker this summer is a clear indication Giroud is viewed as inadequate for the challenges that lie ahead.

The Frenchman started just 11 Premier League matches last season as Alexis Sanchez assumed the centre-forward position before Danny Welbeck returned from injury to become Wenger’s first-choice, starting last month’s FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea.

Arsenal have already had an informal £87 million bid for Mbappé rejected by Monaco — although the Gunners officially deny any offer — and are considering whether to make another attempt now France have concluded their summer fixtures.

Although Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea among a host of other top clubs are closely monitoring Mbappé’s situation, it is understood Wenger believes his relationship with the player gives Arsenal a live chance of pulling off a stunning coup.

The fee is likely to top £100m and although that is towards the upper limit of the Gunners’ budget, Wenger can balance the books by offloading a number of other players and offering Giroud in a part-exchange deal.

Standard Sport understands using Giroud in this way has been discussed as a possible strategy to help secure Mbappé or Lacazette, for whom Arsenal have been quoted a fee of about £60m.

Giroud would prefer to stay with the Gunners but is mindful his place in France’s starting line-up for France would be compromised by another season with limited opportunities at club level.

Should Arsenal sign Lacazette, it is believed Giroud would welcome the competition given he is currently ahead of the Lyon forward in France’s pecking order.

In Pictures | Kylian Mbappe's meteoric rise at Monaco 16 show all In Pictures | Kylian Mbappe's meteoric rise at Monaco 1/16 Kylian Mbappe is one of the world's most-coveted youngsters after announcing himself with a stellar campaign with Monaco this season.



Here is his career, in pictures, so far... Getty Images 2/16 He made his first-team debut on December 2, 2015, becoming Monaco's youngest-ever player at 16 years 347 days to break Thierry Henry’s record set 21 years earlier. AFP/Getty Images 3/16 Eight days later he faced Tottenham in the Europa League, coming on just before the hour mark as Monaco lost 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Getty Images 4/16 He scored his first goal for Monaco a few months later, in February, at the age of 17 years and 62 days to break another Thierry Henry record as the club's youngest-ever scorer. AFP/Getty Images 5/16 That summer, Kylian Mbappe scored five times as France won the Under-19s European Championship. Bongarts/Getty Images 6/16 Bongarts/Getty Images 7/16 His first goal of this season came in October as Monaco put six past Montpellier. AFP/Getty Images 8/16 AFP/Getty Images 9/16 He scored his first hat-trick for Monaco in February, 2017, as Monaco won 5-0 over Metz. AFP/Getty Images 10/16 Just 10 days later, he scored at the Etihad Stadium as Monaco lost 5-3 to Man City. AFP/Getty Images 11/16 His second goal against Caen in March was his sixth in four games. AFP/Getty Images 12/16 Such form saw him called up for the France national team for the first time in the same month. AFP/Getty Images 13/16 Kylian Mbappe made his senior France debut against Luxembourg, replacing Dimitri Payet in the 78th minute. AFP/Getty Images 14/16 In total, Kylian Mbappe scored six goals in nine games in his first Champions League campaign. AFP/Getty Images 15/16 A run which ended with a semi-final loss to Juventus, though he scored only the third goal Gianluigi Buffon had conceded in the entire Champions League campaign and first since November. AFP/Getty Images 16/16 Kylian Mbappe's season ended with Monaco being crowned Ligue 1 champions for the first time in 17 years. He had scored 26 goals in 44 games across all competitions. AFP/Getty Images 1/16 Kylian Mbappe is one of the world's most-coveted youngsters after announcing himself with a stellar campaign with Monaco this season.



Here is his career, in pictures, so far... Getty Images 2/16 He made his first-team debut on December 2, 2015, becoming Monaco's youngest-ever player at 16 years 347 days to break Thierry Henry’s record set 21 years earlier. AFP/Getty Images 3/16 Eight days later he faced Tottenham in the Europa League, coming on just before the hour mark as Monaco lost 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Getty Images 4/16 He scored his first goal for Monaco a few months later, in February, at the age of 17 years and 62 days to break another Thierry Henry record as the club's youngest-ever scorer. AFP/Getty Images 5/16 That summer, Kylian Mbappe scored five times as France won the Under-19s European Championship. Bongarts/Getty Images 6/16 Bongarts/Getty Images 7/16 His first goal of this season came in October as Monaco put six past Montpellier. AFP/Getty Images 8/16 AFP/Getty Images 9/16 He scored his first hat-trick for Monaco in February, 2017, as Monaco won 5-0 over Metz. AFP/Getty Images 10/16 Just 10 days later, he scored at the Etihad Stadium as Monaco lost 5-3 to Man City. AFP/Getty Images 11/16 His second goal against Caen in March was his sixth in four games. AFP/Getty Images 12/16 Such form saw him called up for the France national team for the first time in the same month. AFP/Getty Images 13/16 Kylian Mbappe made his senior France debut against Luxembourg, replacing Dimitri Payet in the 78th minute. AFP/Getty Images 14/16 In total, Kylian Mbappe scored six goals in nine games in his first Champions League campaign. AFP/Getty Images 15/16 A run which ended with a semi-final loss to Juventus, though he scored only the third goal Gianluigi Buffon had conceded in the entire Champions League campaign and first since November. AFP/Getty Images 16/16 Kylian Mbappe's season ended with Monaco being crowned Ligue 1 champions for the first time in 17 years. He had scored 26 goals in 44 games across all competitions. AFP/Getty Images

Mbappé is a different matter, however, given he would command a world-record fee and England witnessed first-hand in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at the Stade de France just what an exciting prospect the 18-year-old is.

Central to any move for Mbappé is Wenger’s assurance that he would be given star status at Emirates Stadium, playing in his preferred centre-forward position with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in support — and landing him could convince Sanchez and Ozil, who have a year left on their contracts, to stay and sign new deals.

Whether Giroud would be prepared to join Monaco or Lyon is another matter. It is understood a move to Marseille could appeal and the club expressed an interest in a £20m move towards the end of last season. Lyon are thought to be open to signing Giroud but could have an issue matching his £100,000-a-week wage demands.

An absence of Champions League football is also a significant factor all round, with Giroud wanting to play in the competition should he move, while complicating any deal for Mbappé or Lacazette by asking them to commit to at least one season outside Europe’s premier club competition.