Arsenal are reportedly lining up a summer bid for Monaco teenager Kylian Mbappe amid the uncertainty over the future of star duo Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.
Giroud, 30, only inked a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this season, but there is still a question mark over his status with French club Marseille prepared to lure him back to Ligue 1.
Meanwhile, Alexis has stalled over a proposed extension beyond 2018, and he is said to be planning a reunion with ex-Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla.
According to Spanish source Don Balon, the Gunners are in line to revive their interest in Mbappe who they failed to sign a year ago, but they could face competition from Real Madrid this time around.
The France Under-19 international, dubbed the ‘new Thierry Henry’, has contributed 13 goals and six assists across all competitions this campaign, and his showing appears to have captured the attention of the European champions.
Both Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata have struggled in front of goal in recent times, and manager Zinedine Zidane is planning to move quickly for the talented forward.
Mbappe, who is the youngest-ever senior debutant for Monaco, is currently valued at a hefty £47m, but the Principality outfit are likely to drive the price even further with performance-based add-ons.
Over the past few years, the north London outfit have come short in terms of matching the valuation of top strikers, and the prospect of spending a club-record sum on Mbappe would be some statement from the club’s hierarchy.
Both Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) and Andrea Belotti (Torino) have been touted as potential transfer options for the summer transfer window, and a move for either marksman could end the Gunners’ pursuit of Mbappe – given the club’s restricted spending.
Arsenal face Liverpool away next in the Premier League, and nothing less than a positive result will do if they are to maintain their top-four hopes for the season.
