Arsenal have reportedly cooled their interest in Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe, with the player linked to fellow Premier League side Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old was a key figure for the Parisians as they won another Ligue 1 title in 2022-23, scoring 29 goals and providing five assists in 34 league matches to collect the division’s Golden Boot award.
However, PSG were once again unable to translate success domestically to the Champions League, with Mbappe and his teammates losing their round-of-16 clash against eventual Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich
A £165m move from Monaco in June 2018 for the Frenchman was meant to be the catalyst to drive PSG towards a European title, however – five years on since that transfer – the club are yet to lift that elusive Champions League trophy.
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Parc des Princes this summer, although his next destination will not be Arsenal, according to widespread reports, per The Mirror, with the Gunners said to not be in the running for the forward.
It was reported earlier this month that the 2018 World Cup winner had earmarked the Emirates as his prefered Premier League destination, being an admirer of the transformation that Mikel Arteta is completing at the North London club.
Despite this, it is understood a switch to the Emirates is not on the cards for Mbappe, as the Gunners do not have the finances necessary to secure his services this summer.
Arteta’s men have attacked the transfer window ahead of the 2023-24 term and have already brought in former Chelsea man Kai Havertz for £65m, ending his three-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
It is also understood that Arsenal are very close to the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber from West Ham United and Ajax respectively – deals which would take the club’s summer spending to over £200m.
The Gunners and the Hammers have reportedly agreed a £105m transfer fee for England international Rice, with the 24-year-old completing a medical at the club earlier this week
Dutchman Timber is set to join the North Londoners for an initial fee of £34m, providing competition to the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel for starting centre-back spots.
The report adds that Real Madrid and Liverpool are still in the hunt for Mbappe, although it is believed that the forward wishes to run down his contract at PSG until its expiration next summer, even if that means sitting on the bench.
The Parisians are said to have slapped a £170m price-tag on the French attacker, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti‘s Los Blancos are expected to wait until 2024 to move for the player.
Arsenal begin their pre-season schedule with a friendly match against German outfit Nuremberg at the Max-Morlock Stadion on Thursday night, with the Gunners hoping to challenge the imperious Manchester City for the Premier League crown once again next term.
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