Arsenal will sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, according to current first-team coach Robert Pires.

Mbappe is sure to be one of the most in-demand commodities in Europe this summer after a fine breakthrough campaign for Monaco.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and both Manchester clubs have been named as the only clubs capable of signing the Frenchman, who could command fees of more than £60million.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he was monitoring the forward earlier this week, but stated that the club’s finances would be likely to scupper the deal.

But former player Pires, who is now a coach at the Emirates Stadium, believes Arsenal will win the chase.

“I do think Arsenal will sign him,” Pires told Bwin. “The problem is how much. Mbappe has the potential to play for Arsenal and Wenger is the right manager to manage him.

“Monaco and Arsenal are very similar in clubs, so it won’t be much of a transition.”

Mbappe has been likened to Pires’s former teammate Thierry Henry, but the ex-winger says it would be “unfair” to compare the two.

“The comparison is unnecessary, he’s not ready to be compared to Thierry,” he said. “Mbappe is a very similar player but to compare the two players would be unfair.

“I hope that Kylian can follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, he has the same profile as Thierry – quick, strong and a great finisher but he’s very young so I would hold off on comparisons just yet.”