Gilles Grimandi, a former scout for Arsenal, has revealed how close the Gunners were to signing young Paris-Saint Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe, who is regarded as one of the best forwards in the world, transferred from fellow Ligue 1 club Monaco to PSG in 2018 for a reported €180 million.
Prior to joining Monaco’s academy in 2013, the 24-year-old began his career with AS Bondy’s youth club, but, according to Grimandi, he might have ended up at Arsenal.
“Scouting’s job is to look for players, as well as any that may be missing. It’s Kylian Mbappe in my opinion. We simply weren’t able to persuade him, Grimandi told The Sun.
“We first met him in February, and his contract expired in June 2013. He would have changed the club if we could have persuaded him to sign up, but he ultimately chose Monaco.
It was difficult because Arsenal wasn’t always at their best. It was simple at first, but as soon as a player heard from us, he wanted to sign it.
“However, it’s challenging to get great players to the squad if you’re not seeing results.
“As a result, it’s critical to maintain your position at the top. It’s a lot simpler.
