If L’Equipe truly believed Arsenal are set to make a €140m offer for Kylian Mbappe, it would be on their Tuesday front page. It would have displaced the French Open as the story of the day and there’d be articles about world record transfers before it, and how French talent was leading the market.
The French newspaper have long held a soft spot for Arsenal, and with Arsene Wenger renewing for a further two years, the temptation of Mbappe joining him in a world record transfer would be colossal.
As it is, L’Equipe’s mention of Arsenal, €140m, and Klyian Mbappe, comes right at the bottom of an article about something else. On page 18, and roughly the newspaper’s 6 or 7th most important football story today.
picture stars, L’Equipe cover claims from around Europe about possible transfers. After naming most of the conceivable PSG targets, L’Equipe get around to Mbappe.
It’s stated that whilst Unai Emery desires Alexis Sanchez the most, and others have been linked, PSG could finally enter the ‘dance of seduction’ for Mbappe. Emery has ‘finally’ been convinced by the AS Monaco player, which suggests he’s slightly slow on the uptake, and they’re considering giving it a go.
Then it’s pointed out that financial rules must be respected, and ‘A possible transfer of the Monaco player will not be decided at less than €120m or €130m. There’s even murmurs Arsenal would be ready to make an offer of €140m.’
And that’s it. Given a lot of the L’Equipe article is sourced from media around Europe, that could be what they’re getting at. Or perhaps it’s just been a rumour they’ve heard in passing and aren’t confident enough in to make a big deal out of.
Of course, it will make a big deal in England, but it needs to be remembered that L’Equipe don’t seem remotely convinced themselves.
Things may change, L’Equipe may be able to get it backed up, or may get carried away with the excitement which is likely going to be incoming from England. But, right now, they don’t seem hugely bothered by the ‘murmur’.
