17 February 2024 , 12:48
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Arsenal must consider giving up a combination of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka if they hope to land Kylian Mbappe, says former Premier League forward Darren Bent.
Mbappe's time with Paris Saint-Germain appears to be coming to an end, with the 25-year-old informing the club of his desire to depart at the end of the season, rather than extend his deal. Real Madrid are frontrunners for the World Cup winner's signature with claims that president Florentino Perez has already told his squad that a deal is done.
Arsenal could yet be in the race for Mbappe, who has scored 243 goals and provided 105 assists in 290 PSG appearances for PSG, with Mikel Arteta suggesting his side should be in the conversation. The Spaniard put it simply: "If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent and the best players, that is for sure."
Bent believes the prospect of landing the French superstar means the Gunners must be willing to sacrifice due to the financial demands it would require. While he does not believe the north London side can afford to lose Saka and Odegaard together, the pundit believes their sale should be considered.
The former Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur striker said on talkSPORT: "I’m not giving up Saka and Odegaard. I’d give up Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard, or Gabriel Jesus and Saka.
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"That pains me because Saka, an academy graduate, but you are talking about arguably the best player on the planet and he’s not old, he’s young. You’d have a centre-forward who was going to smash goals in and he can play on that right-hand side as well."
While Arteta will be hopeful of acquiring such a talent to his side, he admitted that no conversation has taken place yet. The pressure for that will like at the door of sporting director Edu Gaspar.
Kylian Mbappe is set to leave PSG this summer (Getty Images)"I am not [in any conversations about signing Mbappe)," he said. "Maybe Edu and the owners are, but I am not in those conversations until the last stage."
However, Arteta believes Arsenal's stature can remain a draw for any player. The history of the club could prove persuasive in his eyes.
He said: "The club we are, I don’t think that has ever been an issue. Everybody wants to play for Arsenal. At least the players we have held discussions with, they always have that smile on their face the moment you open the door and start to have that discussion.
"That is because of our history and everything we have done in the past as well."
Mbappe has previously admitted conversations with Arsene Wenger over a possible move to the Emirates while Thierry Henry is said to be among his footballing idols.
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