Mbappe has forced Arsenal to CHANGE transfer plans

Robin Bairner

28 Mar 2024 06:10 CDT
4 min read

Kylian Mbappe, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Arsenal have been forced to change their summer transfer plans because of Kylian Mbappe, according to a report.

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The Gunners have weighed up the viability of moving for the PSG attacker in the past, yet it appears that they had dropped their ambition to sign the France star.

Instead, it appears that Mikel Arteta and his staff were banking on Mbappe agreeing a new deal with the Ligue 1 champions in order to further their own ambitions of landing one of his teammates.

Xavi Simons may be on loan at RB Leipzig from PSG, but the future of the Netherlands international is tied to that of Mbappe.

With the attacker destined to leave to Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the season, the 20-year-old appears likely to be destined to move back to Parc des Princes as a starter in the summer.

The Express reports that the Gunners will be denied the chance to land Simons due to Mbappe’s decision to leave Paris.

FootballTransfers previously reported that while Arsenal are interested in Simons, their priority in this area of the field remains Wolves’ Pedro Neto. Competition is fierce for the Portugal international, though, with Manchester City a leading candidate to land the wide man.

© IMAGO - Xavi Simons celebrates a goal with Dani Olmo

© IMAGO - Xavi Simons has been earmarked as Mbappe's replacement

Simons is Mbappe’s replacement at PSG

PSG head coach Luis Enrique, meanwhile, has admitted that he sees Simons as the long-term replacement for Mbappe at Parc des Princes.

While answering fan questions on Twitch, the former Barcelona coach explained: “He’s doing wonders at PSV and now at Leipzig. He has shown himself to be one of the best players in the team. He has ideal individual characteristics for a model and a philosophy like ours.

“I don’t know exactly the conditions in which he is loaned to Leipzig, but he could clearly be an interesting option for us. It will depend on the club.”

Arsenal’s attraction to Simons is the fact that he can play anywhere across the attacking line, although their priority for the summer transfer window is to land a goal-scoring No.9, with Viktor Gyokeres top of the pile.