Geoffrey Kondogbia to Arsenal: Monaco midfielder nearing move to Inter Milan as Gunners and Manchester City set to miss out

French mdfielder is believed to have been the subject of an official bid from Inter while Real Madrid and Manchester City have also shown interest

France and Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia (Getty Images)

Arsenal and Manchester City look like they will miss out on Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia after reports emerged claiming that Inter Milan have stolen a march on their rivals and are closing in on signing the highly-rated Frenchman.

The 22-year-old looks set to leave Monaco this summer after two years with the Ligue 1 club, with his agent confirming earlier this month that City had joined the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter in a battle to land him.

AC Milan had looked to be favourites to sign him, but their general manager Adriano Galliani has admitted that the Italian’s could be priced out of a move and claimed that anyone who wants to sign him will be “bled dry”.

"Whoever wins will be bled dry. The competition has caused the price-tag and the player's own demands to explode,” Galliani told Gazetta dello Sport.

"It is going to be at least €35m, but you can imagine it now going beyond €40m, and Kondogbia is now asking for several million euros to be convinced."

Galliani added: "I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but I am not leaving Monte Carlo."

Kondogbia’s agent, Dmitry Ryboloblev, has claimed that his client could be sold for as much as €40m (£28.6m) this summer given the increase in interest in him. Monaco want at least £25m if they are to let him go, and reports in Italy suggest that Inter have moved forward to take the lead in the race to sign him by making an official bid.

On Friday, Tottenham, were reported to have expressed an interest in Kondogbia, although the prospect of him moving to the Premier League appears to be getting slimmer by the day.