Mikel Arteta admits that Arsenal “have to be in the conversation” for players like Kylian Mbappe, but accepts that he appears to be heading elsewhere.
The France international forward is preparing to hit free agency in 2024.
With his contract at Paris Saint-Germain running down, Mbappe has been free to enter into talks with teams outside of Ligue 1 since January.
He has stopped short of making a public declaration on his future, but reports suggest that a deal has been agreed with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
If Mbappe is to become another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu, then Premier League suitors will be left disappointed.
Arsenal fall into that category, amid talk of Mbappe being “willing” to join the Gunners in order to emulate Thierry Henry’s legacy in north London, but Arteta concedes that no move to Emirates Stadium will be made.
When asked about links to the 2018 World Cup winner, the Spaniard said: “When there is a player of that calibre, we always have to be in the conversation.
“But as you said, it looks in a different way.”
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However, the Gunners are considered to be in the market for more firepower, after seeing the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah fail to convince as a leading No.9.
But attention will shift to alternative striker targets heading towards the summer transfer window.
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