Arsenal have been dealt a crucial setback in their pursuit of Christopher Nkunku after RB Leipzig insisted the sought-after playmaker will stay put for at least another season.
Nkunku, 24, has shone in the Bundesliga and on the continental stage this season to emerge as a key target for the Gunners, who had a quiet January window in terms of incomings.
The versatile attacker scored a brilliant hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League group stage and his overall tally stands at 31 goals or assists in 30 games.
Nkunku has just over two years remaining on his contract at the Red Bull Arena and his eye-catching form is sure to attract attention from Europe's heavyweights, with Chelsea also monitoring the situation.
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However, Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff insists the player will be going nowhere this summer as he is "very important" for Domenico Tedesco's side.
"He will also play with us next season because of course he is a very important player," Mintzlaff told Sky Sport Germany of Nkunku. "In football nothing is ever certain, but that's our plan."
Arsenal's interest in Nkunku dates back to 2019, when he was on Paris Saint-Germain's books having emerged from their academy four years earlier.
The former France Under-21 international won seven major honours with PSG before joining Leipzig for a fee in the region of £12million.
Nkunku is already enjoying his most prolific season for the German side having smashed his tally of seven goals from last campaign.
He was on the scoresheet in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Bayern Munich, while in-demand striker Andre Silva also found the back of the net for the visitors.
But Mintzlaff has no plans to part ways with either player and also ruled out a summer departure for attacking midfielder Dani Olmo.
"Of course, players like Dani Olmo, Nkunku or Andre Silva are very, very important pillars who can and should continue to develop with us," the Leipzig chief said.
Mintzlaff added that "we will start the coming season with these players" in a further hands-off message to Arsenal and other suitors for the trio.
Despite the warning, the Gunners may try to test Leipzig's resolve with a summer bid, especially as they may not be able to offer Nkunku and their other stars Champions League football next season.
Manager Tedesco has struggled since taking the reins from Julian Nagelsmann and Leipzig sit seventh in the Bundesliga table, outside of the European places with less than half of the campaign remaining to make up the ground to the top four.
