Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that the club have not made any offer to sign AS Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe this summer. The Gunners have been heavily linked with the 18-year-old following his breakthrough season in Ligue 1 last term.
Mbappe bagged 15 goals in 29 games in the French division last season, but it was his impact in the second half of the campaign which captured the eye of Europe’s elite.
Following Arsenal’s 3-1 friendly win over Western Sydney Wanderers, Wenger took his time to thank the fans while also answering some questions from the press.
Wenger was initially asked whether Mbappe could stay put at Monaco, and for this, he replied in the affirmative by stating that the teenager may have too many options to decide from.
He said h/t Goal.com: “It looks like that. Maybe he had too much choice, so in the end people don’t move.”
Meanwhile, the north London were reckoned to have lodged a world-record bid worth £123m for Mbappe but Wenger clearly denied the offer stating that youngster could remain at Monaco for another season.
“That’s not true,” he added. “People have big imaginations. What we know now with Mbappe is it’s over £100m, after that it’s free for everyone to imagine.”
The club’s faithful have kept up with the prospect of Mbappe arriving at the Emirates this summer, but Wenger’s latest comments suggest that the club are looking at other options, who could come at a fairly affordable sum.
Mbappe’s teammate Thomas Lemar is one such player who has caught the eye of Wenger and BBC Journalist David Ornstein suggests that the Gunners are maintaining their interest in the France international.
Arsenal will now travel to China where they resume their pre-season tour with a friendly against Bayern Munich, who still bring sour memories of the 10-2 aggregate defeat in the Champions League last term.
