Tag Archives: Kylian Mbappe

The Premier League’s big spenders are set to do it all again this summer to bring some of the finest players to English football and strengthen their sides for the forthcoming campaign.

English football’s rise of TV revenue has lead to Premier League side’s paying a premium price on the transfer market and inflation over recent years has seen players cost more and more, with transfer records being set regularly.

Paul Pogba became the world’s first €100m player last year when he sealed a move from Juventus to Manchester United but his record is likely to be broken in the coming months, with audacious fees being mentioned- some in excess of £120m.

With the likelihood that records will be smashed this summer, we’ve identified ten players who could become the most expensive players in the history of world football in the coming months if they secure a lucrative move- and it features a number of Premier League targets.

Kylian Mbappe (Monaco)

The hottest name in world football right now, teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a host of Europe’s top-sides this summer, including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but Monaco are determined to keep hold of his services.

Mbappe’s ability and the fact Monaco don’t want to sell means his price-tag will be driven higher and higher, with reports already indicating a deal could cost in excess of £120m- a sensational figure for this year’s breakthrough star.

Arsenal appear to be ready to fight with the top clubs to secure the very best talent this summer. With the rumour mill in full flow, we take a look at three players strongly linked with a move to The Emirates this summer.

1 – Kylian Mbappe

Age: 18
Position: Forward
Estimated Cost: £110million

The dream signing, but is it realistic? Mbappe is a player that has attracted interest from all around Europe after his incredible rise to prominence this season has made heads turn. The latest reports suggest that Arsenal have a chance of signing him due to the fact that Arsene Wenger has been extremely instrumental in the process of convincing the player that a move to Arsenal may be the best route forward for his career. Starting the season as a fringe player, Monaco were hesitant at first to start Mbappe this season, but he soon proved his quality and forced his way into the team permanently. In the Champions League, he was particularly impressive, scoring 6 from 6 starts and 3 sub apps. In the league, he netted 15 times and made 8 assists from 17 starts and 12 sub appearances. Any deal for Mbappe will certainly cost in excess of £100million, making him the world’s most expensive player if he did move, and he’s just 18…

Arsenal are determined to show they mean business this summer and Arsene Wenger seems ready to splash the cash, with the Gunners looking to end a 13-year wait for a Premier League title.

The North London giants continued their renaissance in May by lifting their third FA Cup crown in four years but the Gunners have remained short of fighting for league success, whilst they’ve also failed to move forward with their exploits on the continent.

Arsenal’s summer signings will be brought in with the hope that they can kick-start a new revolution for the Gunners and Monaco ace Kylian Mbappe is top of their wish-list, with a deal set to shatter the club-record £42.5m spent on Mesut Ozil in 2013.

Wenger’s side face a wealth of competition for Mbappe’s signature, with The Mirror stating Paris Saint-Germain have launched a world-record £119m bid for the teenager and Spanish outlet Marca claiming Liverpool have seen a bid of their own rejected.

Interestingly though, it seems Arsenal are very much in the race for one of the most exciting young prospects within European football.

What’s the latest?

Football.London state Arsenal are ready to make a fresh bid for Mbappe with Arsene Wenger’s confidence of securing a deal growing in recent weeks, so much so that the Gunners are reportedly preparing an audacious offer that would eclipse the approach from PSG.

Mbappe held talks with Monaco regarding his future last week, after returning from international duty with France, and seems increasingly likely to leave this summer despite the French principality outfit being desperate to keep their star-man.

Arsenal believe their approach could be the ideal move for Mbappe at this stage of his career, allowing him to continue his development and being assured of regular first-team football, with The Telegraph stating the 18-year-old is open to a move to North London.

Arsene Wenger’s track record of nurturing young players in playing to the Gunners advantage and the opportunity for Mbappe to become the leading man at the Emirates Stadium is significant ahead of a World Cup year.

Could it really happen?

Despite Arsenal’s confidence and all the positive news flowing the way of Gooners, it would still be a massive shock to see Mbappe move to North London this summer- especially as it would see the Gunners set a world transfer record.

Wenger has previously been tight with his spending, with Arsenal’s club-record deals being significantly less than some of their main rivals, although the French boss has shown willingness to change in recent years- spending over £100m last summer.

Splashing such an audacious amount on one player doesn’t seem to fit the Wenger mould though but it’s clear Arsenal do need to spend this summer and securing a deal for a player like Mbappe would certainly ease the pressure on the shoulders of the long-serving boss.

Chelsea have enjoyed a fantastic campaign under Antonio Conte but criticisms still remain at the West London outfit’s use of youngsters, as they have an abundance of players waiting for their opportunity behind the scenes.

The Blues have remarkably failed to see an academy graduate become a first-team regular at the club since John Terry, who is approaching the end of his career at Stamford Bridge, and it’s difficult to judge where the next Chelsea-developed hero will emerge from.

Sensationally, it’s now emerged that Chelsea turned down the opportunity to sign Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe four years ago for just £17k, The Daily Mirror reports, instead promoting Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke through the youth ranks.

The decision not to sign the now 18-year-old rated at three-figures seems incredibly wrong, especially as neither Solanke or Abraham have been handed a genuine chance to excel in the first-team.

Where are Solanke & Abraham?

Tammy Abraham has excelled on-loan with Championship outfit Bristol City this season, scoring 23 goals, the second-highest in the division, to help the Robins fend off the threat of relegation and he’s due to return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Dominic Solanke, meanwhile, spent last season on-loan at Vitesse Arnheim but remained at Stamford Bridgee this season, although he’s set to leave in the summer after being frozen out of the first-team fold following a breakdown in contract talks.

Solanke, 19, made his Blues debut in the Champions League back in 2014 but has not featured for the first-team since. Abraham, meanwhile, made two substitute appearances in the Premier League last season prior to his loan move in the summer.

Would Mbappe have made it?

Whilst Mbappe is widely regarded to be the hottest prospect in European football right now, it’s debatable as to whether he would have had an opening at Chelsea. Given the Blues track record, it’s likely that the Frenchman would be far from where he is now.

As Mbappe prepares for the Champions League semi-final with Juventus tonight and eyes a spot in France’s World Cup squad next summer, it’s clear the teenager has benefitted from the sequence of events four years ago that led Chelsea not to land his services.

Even if Chelsea were to put up the funds to sign Mbappe this summer, it’s difficult to see how he would be managed in West London- especially due to the mishandling of last season’s Ligue 1 breakthrough star Michy Batshuayi.

These are Fresh Football’s player ratings for Manchester City’s 5-3 win in the UEFA Champions League at home to AS Monaco:

Manchester City

Willy Caballero - 7

A victim of Pep Guardiola’s expansive system, Willy Caballero constantly found himself in trouble with his short deliveries, but the Argentine was able to show his true qualities with a penalty save and a crucial stop in the final stages of the game versus Radamel Falcao.

Bacary Sagna - 5

Not quite as solid as he’s so often proven to be, which will stand as a disappointment for the Frenchman.

John Stones - 6.5

A mismatch for Falcao in Monaco’s third of the night, but the Englishman redeemed himself when placing City ahead at 4-3.

Nicolas Otamendi 4

Poor for both Mbappe’s goal and the foul that subsequently earned Monaco a penalty at 2-1, which was eventually missed by Falcao.

Fernandinho 4.5

He’ll have better games, perhaps a consequence of being, rather surprisingly, deployed at left back.

Yaya Toure - 6

Good in possession, but massively outnumbered in midfield.

David Silva - 7

Close to no contribution defensively, as expected, but Silva found all the right pockets and passes going forward.

Kevin De Bruyne - 7

Did his fair share of running and was typically good in the final third.

Raheem Sterling - 8

Sharp, direct and with a goal and assist to his name. Sterling’s fine form under Guardiola continues.

Leroy Sané - 8

Another who is beginning to thrive at City, bagging a terrific assist for Sterling’s opener and killing the game off eith the hosts’ fifth goal of the night.

Sergio Agüero - 9

A real menace with his runs in behind, as he brought City level on two separate occasions. A priceless performance.

Subs

Pablo Zabaleta - 6.5

A positive switch for City, cementing the defence somewhat and offering greater confidence for Guardiola’s man to charge after the desired result.

Jesus Navas - N/A

Fernando - N/A

AS Monaco

Danijel Subasic - 4

Disappointing stuff from the Croatian number one, who might have been lucky not to give away a penalty in the first half and offered City a way in with a clanger for Aguero’s goal.

Djibril Sidibe - 7

A little clumsy in places, but the right back’s anticipation and quality of passes shun through his imperfections.

Kamil Glik - 5

The better half of the two centre backs, but Glik won’t be looking forward to facing Agüero in a hurry.

Andrea Raggi - 4

Showed his age, as he struggled with that pass in behind to City’s forward line all night.

Benjamin Mendy - 6.5

Didn’t link up as nicely as he has done with Thomas Lemar during the current campaign, but his deliveries from wide areas were brilliant.

Bernardo Silva - 7

The diminutive playmaker put his dribbling traits on show, but tired towards the end.

Fabinho - 6.5

Decent, but another who lost influence as the game went on.

Tiemoué Bakayoko - 8

There are a handful of top Premier League clubs with their eyes on the box-to-box midfielder and it was easy to see why. A capable match against Yaya Toure’s imposing figure, Bakayoko read the game well and didn’t stop doing so until the final whistle.

Kylian Mbappé - 7

The next big thing out of Monaco’s ranks, the 18-year-old provided a threat in behind and even bagged a goal for himself to undoubtedly increase his stock.

Radamel Falcao - 8.5

In hot form domestically, the Colombian carried his good habits over to the European stage with two excellent goals, despite also missing a penalty.

Subs

Valerie Germain - N/A

João Moutinho - N/A