Mikel Arteta has said he believes Arsenal should be targeting the world’s best players including Kylian Mbappé, but admitted the France international appears destined to join Real Madrid.
ESPN reported on Thursday that Mbappé has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, with sources saying Madrid are expecting to sign the forward, who is one off the most coveted stars in the sport.
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However, the Arsenal boss was asked on Friday whether he had any interest in Mbappé, and he said: “When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation. But as you said it looks in a different way [that Mbappé is joining Madrid].”
Pushed to elaborate on whether Arsenal were “in the conversation” to sign Mbappé, Arteta replied: “I am not! Maybe Edu [the technical director] and the owners are, but I am not in those conversations until the last stage.
“Why not? If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent and the best players, that is for sure.”
Arsenal found themselves constrained by Financial Fair Play rules in January after spending over £200 million ($251m) last summer, and although a move for Mbappé would not require a transfer fee, any deal would shatter the club’s current wage structure with the forward believed to earn north of €650,000 per week ($700,000).
Arsenal’s highest earner is thought to be Bukayo Saka on around £300,000-a-week including bonuses.
