Arsenal managerial target Luis Enrique is seeking financial parity with Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho if he is to come to the Premier League, sources have told ESPN FC.
The former Barcelona coach figures highly on Arsenal's wanted list to replace Arsene Wenger, but his demands are likely to put him out of the Gunners' reach.
Arsenal's head of football relations, Raul Sanllehi, knows Luis Enrique well from his time working with him at the Camp Nou and has been championing his case to succeed Wenger.
Manchester City chief Guardiola and Manchester United boss Mourinho are the two highest earning managers in the Premier League in the region of £15 million per year and Luis Enrique wants to be in the same pay bracket if he is to take the Arsenal job.
He has been out of work since leaving Barcelona at the end of last season after deciding to take a year's sabbatical from football. The former Spain international won the La Liga title twice along with three Copa del Reys and a Champions League crown during his three seasons at the Camp Nou.
Sources have told ESPN FC that he is ready to return to management this summer and he has been linked with a number of jobs, including the vacancy at Arsenal, but the club are reluctant to break the bank to bring in a new manager especially with no Champions League football at the Emirates next term for a second successive season.