Arsenal suffer major blow in pursuit of exciting 21-year-old attacker

North London club Arsenal have suffered a major setback after Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev insists top target Thomas Lemar is not for sale this summer transfer window.

The Monaco vice-president has told the Gunners to forget about signing young French sensation Thomas Lemar this summer.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a £50m bid to sign the Monaco wonderkid over the past week as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks to sign his third player this summer.

According to reports, the Gunners have failed with two attempts to sign the 21-year-old forward and have been quoted a £60m asking price for the Monaco playmaker.

Wenger is facing a tough battle to keep Chilean Alexis Sanchez beyond the summer, and Lemar was touted as a potential replacement for the former Barcelona star.

The Monaco star scored nine goals and provided 10 assists in 34 matches in Ligue 1 last season to help Monaco beat Paris Saint-Germain to the French Ligue 1 title.

And Vasilyev has ruled out Lemar or speculated Manchester United target Fabinho leaving Monaco this summer transfer window.

The Gunners have started their summer transfer business with the signing of Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer from Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04.

Arsenal broke their transfer record after the Gunners spent £52m on Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette from Ligue 1 side Lyon.