Arsenal: Edu’s HILARIOUS response to Mbappe links

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 1 Jul 2023 15:32 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal sporting director Edu has replied in cheeky fashion to talk that the Gunners could sign Kylian Mbappe next summer.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed on Friday (June 30) that Arsenal are pondering a sensation swoop for the PSG superstar – who is out of contract at the end of next season and has reportedly opted against extending his deal by an extra year.

As such, the Ligue 1 champions may have to sell their most-prized asset during the current transfer window in order to avoid taking a massive financial hit by losing him for free in 12 months’ time.

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Real Madrid – who tried to sign Mbappe last year – still look to be the strong favourites to secure the 24-year-old French forward’s signature, but news of Arsenal’s interest has, unsurprisingly, got Gunners fans buzzing.

Commenting on Instagram, one suggested that Edu would be ‘sliding into Mbappe’s DMs’ imminently – and the former Arsenal midfielder certainly seemed to see the funny side, responding with five laughing emojis.

Given that they’ve already spent £65m to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea and are poised to complete a club- and British-record £105m deal for West Ham captain Declan Rice, a free transfer next summer might well be the only way the Gunners to get their hands on Mbappe.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers | All the Done Deals

A hefty price tag

Mbappe’s €180m move from Monaco to PSG in 2018 still ranks as the second-most expensive transfer of all time.

Our in-house Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model currently rates the 2018 World Cup winner at €136m – and PSG are said to be willing to entertain offers in the region of €150m this summer.

With 29 goals in 34 games, Mbappe finished as Ligue 1 top scorer for the fifth successive season in 2022/23 – en route to winning his sixth French title.