Journalist Sam Dean has now revealed where Arsenal stand in the race to sign Kylian Mbappe.
PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe is likely to be on the move in the near future. The French attacker’s contract with his current club is due to expire in the summer of 2024, at which point he will become a free agent.
Unless PSG are able to convince Mbappe to pen a new deal, or another club come in with a transfer offer astronomical enough to prise him away before then, then there will be an arms race to snap up Mbappe as a free agent. Arsenal may well feature in that race.
Arsenal are known to be in the market for a new attacker, with some elite level names being touted as potential targets for the north London club. Mbappe’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium would blow anything else out of the water, though. The 25-year-old might just be the best player on the planet at this time.
According to Sky Sports, Mbappe is keen to leave PSG. Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu will likely be preparing to do all they can to tempt the player to north London.
Where do Arsenal stand in the Kylian Mbappe race?
Sam Dean has now given his verdict on Arsenal’s chances of securing the World Cup winner’s services. Speaking on The Arsenal Beat podcast, he said, “shall we address the Mbappe issue? I think everyone knows that isn’t going to happen due to the wages he would demand and the structure Arsenal have in place.”
“Yes, there’s no transfer fee, but I imagine the signing fee would be substantial to sign Mbappe as a free agent.”
“But let’s suspend the financial reality for a moment. One thing I would say about the Mbappe situation is that if he’s looking around Europe for clubs he could go to, there aren’t many, and I think Arsenal would be very much on the list of appealing ones.”
“A young, up-and-coming squad, in Europe, there’s the Thierry Henry factor, there’s a lot there in Arsenal’s favour. That pull is enormous right now, but I think the wages alone would be mind-boggling, so I can’t see that one happening.”
Should Arsenal sign Kylian Mbappe, if they can?
Assuming, for a moment, that Arsenal could sign Mbappe, he would of course instantly raise the level of the squad. However, his arrival would bring challenges with it. His wages would be astronomical, far beyond the club’s current highest earner, Kai Havertz. Mbappe currently pockets £888,000-per-week at PSG. By contrast, Havertz takes home £280,000-a-week. This kind of disparity can cause friction within a dressing room.
On top of that, Arteta has clashed with big personalities in his squad before. Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were big names and big earners, and both were ultimately frozen out by the Spanish coach.
Arteta has previously preached the importance of unity within a squad. Mbappe’s arrival, and the circus of media attention it would bring, could disrupt that harmony.
Arsenal need to be careful about how much they’re willing to risk in an effort to bring Mbappe to the club.
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