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Transfers
Should Arsenal break the bank for Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe?
Interest in Monaco’s teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has been rife throughout his impressive debut season and as the 1st July, the official opening of the transfer window, gets ever closer, clubs have started turning their interest into offers for the French star.
According to the , Real Madrid have already made a world record bid of £105 million and Arsenal have offered £87 million for the France international, but both were rejected.
While the Spanish side offer Champions League football, a huge opportunity to win trophies and the chance to play alongside superstars like Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, the prospect of joining Arsenal should not be discounted.
The similarities between Mbappe and Thierry Henry are for all to see and the move from Monaco to Arsenal would make this even more obvious.
Mbappe, while being widely scouted, was an unknown prospect at the beginning of the campaign and he has only just completed his first full season in senior football. Although everyone can see the huge amount of talent he has, no one is quite sure of his full potential.
Arsenal’s £87 million bid represents a huge gamble considering how short Mbappe’s career has been, but would this be money well spent if they were to pull off the signing?
The Frenchman burst to prominence after a string of impressive performances between October and November 2016, having only appeared once before then.
He went on to score 14 crucial league goals that helped his club to the Ligue 1 title, ahead of big-spenders Paris Saint-Germain. The youngster looked equally, if not more, impressive in the Champions League, especially when he provided a huge test for the sturdy Juventus defence to deal with.
His off-the-ball movement and acceleration are incredible and he would give the Gunners a different dimension if he was to join the London side.
Arsenal have no one like Mbappe and while Walcott may be just as quick, the difference in terms of awareness is staggering. Mbappe’s impressive decision-making, when to make a run and when to act as a target-man, would be music to the ears of Arsenal’s creative players, such as Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Verdict
With such interest surrounding the France international, if Arsenal were to sign Mbappe it would represent a major transfer coup, showing that they still have the ability to attract stars despite not having Champions League, something that both Chelsea and Manchester United have portrayed in recent seasons.
Mbappe would give the Gunners a different dimension and would certainly be an upgrade on what they already have. Danny Welbeck is the only out-and-out striker that is anything like Mbappe, but the Frenchman is far superior in ability.
Although the Gunners’ £87 million bid was rejected and anything more than that is an extortionate sum, signing Mbappe would signal intent while also being a solid investment. The 18-year-old has his whole career ahead of him. While it may take a chunk out their budget, the positives of breaking the bank on the Monaco star certainly out-weigh the negatives.
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