Arsenal round-up: Alexandre Lacazette talks; Kylian Mbappe to be offered new contract; Hector Bellerin likely to stay

Add as preferred source on Google

There have been conflicting reports regarding the reason why Arsene Wenger is currently in France, but The Sun report that the Arsenal manager is there to discuss a deal for Alexandre Lacazette and not Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe. It goes on to state that Wenger and Ivan Gazidis have met with Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas this week in the attempt to agree a fee for the 26-year-old striker. Although it had been thought that he wanted to sign for a side in the Champions League, the Gunners hope that a contract worth £200,000 per week will be enough to convince him to sign.

Lacazette has been a player that has been linked to the Premier League on countless occasions, but this is now the right time for him to leave Ligue 1. He scored 37 goals for Lyon in all competitions in the past season and will be looking to step up to test himself in a better league. It would be a great signing for Arsenal as he would give them a more dynamic option in attack. This is certainly a deal to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the Independent report that Monaco are desperate to keep Kylian Mbappe and are prepared to offer him a new contract to fend off interest from bigger clubs. Arsenal and Real Madrid have both been linked with world record moves for the teenage striker. However, the Ligue 1 champions don’t need to sell as they are already bringing in a significant sum of money in sales, which could allow them to keep the 18-year-old for at least one more season. Leonardo Jardim has told the board that he wants Mbappe to stay at the club and that his value will only increase with another excellent season in France.

This is a blow for Arsenal, but it makes complete sense for Monaco. They don’t need to sell Mbappe yet as they already have healthy finances. His value is only going to increase and, at the age of 18, he won’t be pushing for a move. The French international will recognise the importance of first-team football, especially with the World Cup only a year away. It remains to be seen whether they will keep him at the club, but it will be a difficult transfer to complete. Arsenal may be better off concentrating on targets that are easier to attain.

Hector Bellerin is a player that some Arsenal fans feared losing this summer, with reported interest from Barcelona. However, Sky Sports report that the club are confident of keeping the Spaniard at the club, while they described the stories linking him with a move back to the Nou Camp as ‘wild speculation’. The right-back has only recently agreed to a new contract last year and the club expect him to be a Gunners’ player at the beginning of next season.

This will be treated with caution as it is early in the window and Barcelona’s main problem that they need to address is at full-back. Given Bellerin’s potential and past with the club, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he emerges as a target. Despite his undoubted ability, the right-back ended the season in poor form and lost his place in the team as Wenger switched to a 3-4-3 formation. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was preferred at right wing-back. It would be good for the club to keep him, but if they did have to sell a player to bring in significant funds, Bellerin would be near the top of that list.

Featured image: All rights reserved by cs2kaisarjudi