Arsenal transfer news: Balague reveals why Wenger turned down chance to sign Mbappe
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to sign Kylian Mbappe because he refused to pay his family commission, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.
Monaco star Kylian Mbappe's brilliant back-heel sets up goal
Kylian Mbappe burst onto the scene last season as he helped fire Monaco to their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years.
His rise to prominence attracted a host of clubs to show interest in him this summer with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain battling for his services.
PSG now look set to complete a deal for the 18-year-old but things could have gone Arsenal’s way the previous summer had Wenger pursued him after holding talks with the player and his family.
But Balague has revealed the French boss was put off by his family’s demands of a payment being included in any deal.
Kylian Mbappe looks set to leave Monaco for PSG this summer
18 months ago Wenger met Mbappe’s family, he was then 16, 17 years old.
Guillem Balague
“18 months ago Wenger met Mbappe’s family, he was then 16, 17 years old,” Balague said on Sky Sports.
“And the family asked for a huge commission of around €7-8million so Mbappe could go to Arsenal.
“And Arsene Wenger said no to that. I think logically, sometimes the fact he doesn’t want to play those games - commissions and money - may work against him.
GETTY
Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to sign Kylian Mbappe
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“But the club will look at that and think ‘I agree, at that point it didn’t make any sense to pay €7-8m commission to the family of a player who’s 16.
“But that is why they are not in the equation now - because the money we’re talking about only the likes of PSG, Real Madrid and [Manchester] City can pay.”
With the transfer window shutting on Thursday, Arsenal’s only two new additions this summer remains Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette.
