Arsenal and Everton given 'high price' warning over €17.5m Ligue 1 target

Stuart Telford

• 17 Mar 2023 18:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Everton are reportedly chasing Montpellier's goalscoring sensation Elye Wahi, but he won't be allowed to leave the Stade de la Mosson on the cheap.

Wahi was the top scoring teenager across Europe's five major leagues per UEFA coefficient last season, and has already matched his 10-goal haul from 2021/22 in 10 fewer games in the current campaign.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, he was linked with a move to the Premier League in the January transfer window, with Arsenal and Everton at the front of the queue to sign him.

READ: Arsenal target Montpellier wonderkid Elye Wahi despite Balogun form

In the event, Montpellier held onto their 20-year-old star striker, whose current contract runs until June 2025.

But that hasn't stopped potential suitors from sending scouts to watch the France youth international in action, with summer bids for him planned.

But Montpellier manager Michel Der Zakarian says buyers will need to spend big to prise Wahi away from the Stade de la Mosson.

READ: Four Man Utd alternatives for rip-off Joao Felix

Der Zakarian: Wahi 'must leave at high price'

"[Discussions about Issiaga Sylla's and Elye Wahi's futures] have cut into our preparations a bit," Der Zakarian admitted ahead of his side's meeting with Clermont on Sunday.

"If Elye is forced to leave, which is possible, he must leave at a high price."

Sylla is a 29-year-old left-back who won't fetch as much as Wahi, who is valued at €17.5 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

Montpellier's record sale is Nordi Mukiele, for whom they received €16m from RB Leipzig in July 2018.

The club were also once home to a certain Olivier Giroud, whom Arsenal paid €12m for back in 2012, after he fired his side to a shock Ligue 1 title triumph.

Whether the Gunners need Wahi is up for debate, despite his talent. Gabriel Jesus is on the comeback from injury and Eddie Nketiah has performed admirably in his absence.

Arsenal-owned Folarin Balogun has outscored Wahi whilst on loan in Ligue 1 this season, meanwhile, hitting 16 goals for Reims.