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Gossip: Arsenal 'give up on Mbappe', Barcelona 'want Lemar', Conte 'frustrated' with Chelsea transfer policy
Arsenal’s pursuit of the world’s hottest footballer Kylian Mbappe has always seemed a bit silly and ill-judged. But, like a dog trying to lick its own ears or a Liberal Democrat election campaign, you had to kind of admire their grinning optimism in the face of such obvious hopelessness.
It’s with sadness, therefore, that we report the summer’s most unlikely transfer saga has ended. The Mail says the Gunners have finally pulled out of the race to sign Mbappe.
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The teenage sensation had been Arsene Wenger’s top target but the manager has now apparently “accepted” that Arsenal’s chances of clinching a deal for the striker are “slim”.
What has finally prompted Wenger to reach this conclusion is unclear – maybe it was the world record price tag, or the interest from Real Madrid, or the realisation that the Europa League is not quite as attractive as the Champions League – but it’s probably for the best if it allows the Gunners to focus on more realistic targets.
The Mail adds that Wenger will now try to ensure he signs Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, which sounds sensible until we see that Barcelona have joined the race for Lemar.
The Mirror says the Catalan giants want the young Frenchman to “bolster their midfield”, meaning Monaco are likely to “ramp up” his £30m price tag.
Oh well, at least there’s still Lacazette. (Although Lyon just rejected the Gunners’ £44m bid for him – eek.)
Well at least there’s still Jack Wilshere then, as West Ham chairman David Gold has dismissed rumours that the Hammers are interested in the injury-prone midfielder (Talksport). Phew.
Less than thrilled
Real Madrid, meanwhile, continue to chase both Mbappe and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The Express says the pair are being lined up as replacements for Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez, both of whom are allegedly set to sign for Manchester United.
Hazard’s departure could push Blues boss Antonio Conte over the edge, with the Star claiming that the fiery Italian is already “less than thrilled” with Chelsea’s summer recruitment strategy.
Most of the Blues’ top targets, such as Romelu Lukaku and Alex Sandro, were reportedly chosen by the Blues board rather than the manager. Apparently Conte didn’t even want Willy Caballero.
Southampton have joined the race to sign Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, meaning pretty much every mid-table in the Premier League is now trying to buy the £25m-rated Nigerian (Sun). Saints could reportedly swing things in their favour by offering City Ryan Bertrand in part-exchange.
Elsewhere, Liverpool will test RB Leipzig’s resolve to keep midfielder Naby Keita by making a bid for the £70m-rated Guinean international (Mirror), Watford manager Marco Silva is “determined” to sign Kieran Gibbs from Arsenal, but not determined enough to meet the left-back’s £15m price tag (Mirror) and rumoured Man Utd target Saul Niguez says he is happy to stay at Atletico Madrid but he just wants “more money” (Goal). Well at least he’s honest.
