Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal: The state of play - Fabrizio Romano

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 4 Jul 2023 10:05 BST
• 4 min read

Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a sensational move to Arsenal from Paris Saint-Germain - a transfer deemed unlikely by Fabrizio Romano, but not one that should be ruled out entirely.

Rumours around Mbappe's future went into overdrive recently when it became apparent that the striker was unwilling to sign a new contract with PSG this summer, instead preferring to 'focus on his football' before a potential free transfer to Real Madrid next year.

Mbappe stands to gain up to €275 million if he sees out his existing deal, with a loyalty bonus ironically achieved before a bumper signing on fee from Madrid, and Real are keen to sign a replacement for Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who has left for Al-Ittihad.

READ: Why Mbappe has NO intention of joining Real Madrid this summer

The above means that PSG are under considerable pressure to sell this summer, and Premier League giants like Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with opportunistic moves in recent weeks. But Romano isn't on top of such links.

Romano: 'no news on English clubs'

"Despite some big headlines, I honestly have absolutely no news on any English clubs being in talks to sign Mbappe," he told CaughtOffside. "If something will happen in the next months we will say that, but at this point I've absolutely zero information on this one."

But that doesn't mean that clubs other than Real Madrid aren't working in the background to pick up the Mbappe ball should los Blancos drop it.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal considering Kylian Mbappe move

Real signed Jude Bellingham for a potential €133.9m this summer, will pay Palmeiras €72m for Brazilian prodigy Endrick next, and are funding a significant redevelopment of their Santiago Bernabeu home.

The chances remain that they can fund a deal for Mbappe in 2024, but as revealed exclusively by FootballTransfers' collaborator Steve Kay recently, the Gunners are indeed waiting in the wings.

"Arsenal are weighing up a move for Kylian Mbappe in 2024," he was told by sources close to the situation. "… the Paris Saint-Germain attacker is admired by the Premier League club, who are considering whether or not to send a package to the Frenchman's representatives.

"[Mikel Arteta's] side know that they would be second choice to Madrid and would have to hope that the La Liga outfit somehow fail in their pursuit of the 24-year-old."

As unlikely as that may be, Real haven't won every single transfer battle they have ever been involved in, even if their success rate is incredibly high, and the cards could yet fold out in Arsenal's favour next year.

Watch this space - as Romano will surely also be doing.