Arsene Wenger privately admits defeat in pursuit of Kylian Mbappe

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger appears to have told his close confidants that the club could miss out on signing top target Kylian Mbappe during this summer’s transfer window.


The Gunners are looking to fend off interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City as they look to secure the services of the French wonderkid.

Mbappe, 18, bagged 26 goals during his breakthrough spell with the Principality outfit last season, and this has earned him a whole host of admirers with Paris Saint-Germain being the latest to have joined the list. Wenger has been confident of luring Mbappe to the Emirates in recent weeks due to the player’s childhood love for Arsenal, but he is now said to be pessimistic about the Gunners prospects, according to Get French Football.

A tweet from the source read: “Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is privately pessimistic about Arsenal’s chances for Kylian Mbappé, according to tomorrow’s L’Équipe.” Wenger made the visit earlier in the week to open up negotiations for Mbappe, but the club look less likely to lodge a bid which could exceed £100m.

Meanwhile, Wenger has also set his sights on other targets for the summer with Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette back on the Gunners radar after a failed approach last year. The France international enjoyed his best ever season with 37 goals, and he is now keen on a fresh challenge elsewhere with Champions League football no longer being a main necessity.

Arsenal are making desperate measure to bolster their squad prior to the start of the season with contract rebel Alexis Sanchez edging ever closer to a summer exit. The Chilean is rumoured to be discussing moves with both Manchester City and Bayern Munich, and a final decision could be made once the player completes his Confederations Cup duty with Chile in the summer.