Charles Watts says Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal won’t be signing Kylian Mbappe from PSG this summer, who is a target of a number of Premier League teams, including Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Of course, the recently-appointed Chelsea boss worked with Kylian Mbappe at PSG, so he will feel that he has some pulling power, amid claims that they are preparing to bid for the France International.
It seems highly likely that the 24-year-old will leave PSG after being left out of their pre-season plans, as Saudi Arabia Pro League side, Al Hilal have submitted a world record £259 million bid for the player.
A number of Premier League clubs have been alerted about Mbappe’s availability, with suggestions that Arsenal would be willing to sell Gabriel Martinelli in order to bring the 2018 World Cup winner to the Emirates.
All sorts of crazy reports are emerging and possible situations are being mapped out.
All in all, it seems as though he is going to leave Paris, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up, but Arsenal transfer expert Watts says he won’t be going to the Emirates, as he posted on his YouTube channel.
“Any chance (to sign Mbappe)? No,” said Watts. “Who knows anything can happen in football? You could be completely surprised.
“But, no. He is going to go to Real Madrid. We all know he will be going to Real Madrid. With what’s going on at the moment, it seems as though PSG are going to try and do their best to get him out of the door this summer and get some money in for him.
“But Mbappe has all the power here. All the strength. Are PSG really not going to play him and let him sit in the stands for a year if he chooses not to sign for anyone this year? I doubt it. They have a player and they are paying him half a million a week or whatever it is.
“They can be as forceful as they want. The power is with Mbappe. He has a year left on his deal, if he wants to see and join Real Madrid on a free transfer, which I am pretty sure he does, then that’s what he is going to do.
“How would we line up with him? I would play him up front, as the central striker and Jesus would have to go on the bench. Would I have him over Martinelli? Yes, I would. But it’s all hypothetical because let’s face it, it’s not going to happen.”
Mbappe in the Premier League
If everyone was wowed by Erling Haaland’s entrance onto the Premier League stage, then only one man in world football can probably overcome him right now and that’s Mbappe – a player dubbed ‘arrogant’, in the right way, by his former manager, Pochettino (The Athletic).
Every club in the world, if financially possible, would secure his talents, so which Premier League club will break the bank and push the boat out for him?
Even possibly selling a major star, or two, just to fund his transfer because, at the end of the day, for what he produces out on the pitch, it’s worth it.
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