Montpellier manager – Michel Der Zakarian – has warned Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur that Elye Wahi will “cost a lot” if they try to sign him this summer.
The 20-year-old has established himself as a regular for the Ligue 1 side over the past couple of seasons.
He scored ten goals in 36 appearances across all competitions last term and he has already surpassed that tally this campaign. He has 12 goals in 24 outings in Ligue 1 in 2022/23.
His recent form has led to reports linking him with a move to the Premier League. It was claimed during January that Arsenal were ‘plotting an incredible last-minute offer’ for the forward, who has ‘aroused’ Tottenham Hotspur.
The attacker is under contract until 2025 so Montpellier are able to demand a sizable fee for Wahi if clubs move for him during this summer’s transfer window.
Der Zakarian has indicated that Wahi is likely to cost around €25-30m if he leaves Montpellier later this year.
“The kid, he’s 20, and full of talent,” Der Zakarian told France Bleu (quotes via The Evening Standard). “That costs a lot. For me, [he’s worth a] minimum €25-30m. When you see the TV rights over there, England can buy him. It’s easier for them.
“He needs to run a lot more, always be moving and be in a position to repeat the efforts. He’s a sprinter, he goes really quickly, but sometimes he’s knackered after 45 minutes. He needs to work a bit better, that’s training every day. If he wants to play in a big club and play with great players, he needs to work hard.
“He can go very far, at a very, very good level. Scoring goals like he does, you need to put them in the back of the net. What he does is good for his age, but I think he can do even better.”
Bixente Lizarazu, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, thinks Arsenal or Borussia Dortmund “would be a good choice” for Wahi.
“He has great athletic qualities, he’s really quick, really sharp, very good in front of goal. If he makes the right choices, when I hear Arsenal or Dortmund, I think that it would be a good choice for a young player to go to those clubs, to progress some more,” Lizarazu said.
“Even if with Montpellier, he’s already improved enormously. It’s rare to see such young and precocious forwards, but that’s the case these days, and there’s a next level to go get, abroad, probably.”
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