According to reports, Arsenal had made a sensational £87 million bid for AS Monaco star Kylian Mbappe a few days back. And although the outcome was pretty much known to everyone, the unexpected and unlikely mammoth bid from the North London side has made everyone sit up straight.
Yes, Monaco rejected it straight away, but it was expected given La Liga giants Real Madrid too had one turned down by the new Ligue 1 Champions, which was a bigger offer apparently. And no, it was not a false report as Evening Standard had confirmed it from the Arsenal club officials.
A different approach by the club was definitely expected after the board decided to keep Arsene Wenger at the helm against everyone’s interest, but this was way over the line. The approach is very unlikely and it did spur debates among critics, who were confused as to how would Arsenal strengthen the rest of the positions after this signing.
It goes without saying that Arsenal don’t have unlimited funds in the bank as they don’t have external resources, unlike some other sides in the Premier League. What they have is what they have earned over the years by preserving resources and by managing the club extremely well, for times like these. But, Wenger has time and again reiterated that the club is always ready to pay the right amount for the right talent and this move only justifies that.
Arsene Wenger had long recognised the potential of the player and apparently even went to his home to convince him. But, neither did he want to leave at 17-year-old, nor was his contract expired. He broke into the fore a tad bit early, otherwise, Wenger is known to get in such talents way before others sniff them.
This time will be different. Winning the domestic league after 17 years, Monaco have all the planning done and at the top of the ‘To do’ list, is to retain the best players they have. Mbappe has scored 26 goals and provided 14 assists this season and at just 18, he is definitely the one to look up to. And Arsenal will have to compete with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Every other suitor, apart from the Gunners, have the capacity to splurge maddening sums in order to get him, while the lures Wenger could come to him are- first team chances, great development and the team will be built around him. The conclusion is obvious.
Monaco’s straight rejection had no hints for Arsenal to come back with a better offer, and neither is Mbappe agitated to leave the club as soon as possible. While it did surely lift the spirits of Arsenal fans to a large extent, this deal is a good as a dead rubber.
