Monaco coach Ricardo has given the clearest indication yet that star forward Jeremy Menez is on his way out of the principality club.

France prospect Menez is being linked with a big-money move to Italian side Roma, who have just over a week to finalise the deal before the transfer window closes.

Ricardo is certainly no longer counting on the services of the 21-year-old, if his assessment of the current crop of strikers at Monaco is anything to go by.

When talking about his options up front for the next couple of months, he declined to mention Menez's name.

'We are not hiding it, I think we still need a striker,' Ricardo said.

'For the moment, we only have Frederic Nimani who fits this profile.

'Yannick Sagbo and Serge Gakpe cam also play this role but they are injured until the end of October.

'Imagine if Nimani gets injured, we will be forced to play without a true striker. That would be something to avoid.'

Monaco, who sold Frederic Piquionne to Lyon a fortnight ago, are reported to want as much as 13million euros for Menez.