Former Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi has recalled how close they came to signing PSG star Kylian Mbappe.

Grimandi admits he held talks with Mbappe when he was with AS Monaco.

Grimandi exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "We tried to convince him before.

"We met his parents in London who came to the training ground and alongside Arsene (Wenger) and Richard Law we travelled to meet Kylian in the South of France.

"We tried to convince him, but I don't think it was the best time for us; that meeting took place the day after we'd just lost to Swansea at home in the league, which itself followed a defeat at Old Trafford and I remember we had a big game away just three days later against Tottenham, so the timing was not ideal.

"We tried, and I really don't think we were far from getting him, but he declined the project and signed a new deal with Monaco."