Mbappe
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal should be in the running to sign PSG forward Kylian Mbappe this summer, but acknowledges that the Frenchman is likely to join Real Madrid.
Mbappe informed PSG this week that he will leave the club at the end of the season, and the French club expects the forward to join Real once the circumstances of his departure are settled.
The 25-year-old forward has also been linked to the Premier League, and Arteta believes Arsenal should be involved in negotiations concerning the player.
“When there is a player of that caliber, we always have to be in that conversation he told his pre-match press conference against Saturday’s trip to Burnley. But it looks differently, that’s what I would say,” said Arteta.
Arsenal were strongly interested in a new striker during the January transfer window, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney being mooted as an alternative.
The 28-year-old has decided to stay at Brentford until the end of the season, but Bees manager Thomas Frank admits Toney will most likely be sold this summer.
PSG and Mbappe, who is out of contract this summer, are still negotiating whether he will depart for a fee or forego his wages.
Mbappe has assured PSG that he will never leave on a free transfer. Real Madrid has a long-term interest in the 25-year-old forward, who would have to accept a wage reduction to join the Spanish club, despite their willingness to make him the highest-paid player in their history.
Real Madrid made an offer of €220 million (£188 million) for Mbappe in August 2021, which PSG declined. The attacker then elected to sign a new three-year contract with PSG, which expires this summer.
