14 February 2024 , 08:56
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Kylian Mbappe has spent the last five-and-a-half years at Paris Saint-Germain but could have graced the Emirates after a secret transfer meeting with legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The France striker's long-term future is once again a topic of debate as he enters the final year of his contract at the Parc des Princes. Real Madrid are hopeful of convincing the World Cup winner to swap Paris for the Bernabeu, but it remains to be seen if their interest will materialise into a deal following the player's decision to back out of a move back in 2022.
A Premier League switch has also been touted and it's known that he has held talks with Liverpool in the past. However, speculation that a move to Arsenal would be of interest to Mbappe has surfaced this week.
According to The Independent, Mbappe would be 'willing' to join the Gunners as it would present him with the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Thierry Henry.
Arsenal pursued Mbappe before his blockbuster switch to PSG back in 2017; it was reported at the time that the Gunners had seen a €100million (£87m) bid for the striker knocked back by his former club, Monaco.
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Wenger still met with Mbappe, though - and the iconic Frenchman managed to leave a lasting impression on the global superstar, even if he did end up moving elsewhere.
In a previous interview with The Telegraph, Mbappe explained: "Yes, I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a great coach. He has a great reputation here in France, he's well-respected and knows how to develop young players. This was a real option for me.
Join the debate! Do you think Mbappe will end up in the Premier League? Let us know here.
Arsene Wenger tried to bring Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal (AFP/Getty Images)"But, of course, Paris Saint-Germain was the main option. We weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of all the clubs but my family told me it had to be my decision and one I needed to make. It also had to be a long-term decision. So it was up to me and I decided to come here in order to develop."
Although Mbappe has yet to respond to a contract offer from Real Madrid, it's been outlined that executives at PSG expect their star man to join the Spanish giants.
He had been on the cusp of joining Los Blancos back in the summer of 2022 but changed his mind on a transfer at the eleventh hour and instead signed a new contract with PSG.
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