Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly prepared to break their tradition by making a second world-record bid to sign AS Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe.
The 18-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best teenagers across the world, and his performances have caught the eye of elite clubs including Real Madrid.
French publication L’Equipe, via The Sun, claims that Wenger could be prepared to sacrifice Giroud in a proposed deal for Mbappe which could rise to £100m.
European champions Real Madrid are said to have already tabled a much higher offer for the teenage sensation, but Wenger is hopeful of using his links with Mbappe’s family in order to lure him to the Emirates this summer.
Mbappe along with his family will meet Monaco vice president Vasilyev today as they look to reach a decision on whether or not he will stay at the Ligue 1 winners next season or leave the club. According to Metro, Speaking on the same Mbappe said:
“I’m going to go away with my family and we’ll think about what’s going to happen. We have to sort it out, see what happens with the club too because I’m under contract with the club. I’m not free. But we will see what happens.”
Mbappe previously held a secret meeting with the long-standing head coach last summer, but a deal failed to materialise with Monaco reluctant to place a price tag on their graduate.
While Champions League remains the main priority for Mbappe, the Gunners are still hopeful of pursuing the wonderkid using a similar example to Manchester United, who lured the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba last year.
As per the report, the deal could involve the sale of Olivier Giroud, who made just 11 Premier League starts last season with the tag of a ‘Super Sub’ on his head.
Giroud has previously cited his ambition to lift the Premier League crown with Arsenal, but he is still worried about his place with the national team, should he struggle to earn sufficient opportunities in North London.
The former Montpellier man would nevertheless have to take a pay-cut on his £100,000 a week in order to realise a return to France, where his opinion is divided among the fans.
Mbappe bagged an impressive tally of 26 goals across all competitions for Monaco last season as they ended Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance to claim their first league title since 2000.
