Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe: Present Or Prospect?

Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe have both been linked with moves to Arsenal. Who Arsene Wenger prefers will rest on the question: present or prospect?

Arsene Wenger is notoriously hesitant in the transfer window. Preferring to be frugal, measured, scouring high and low for value, rather than having to overpay for the big name, Wenger has often prioritised the acquisition of young players as he looks to assemble his Arsenal squad.

This youthful approach has lended itself well to the financial restrictions that have been placed on him and the club as a result of moving to the Emirates. However, as the financial influence of the departure from Highbury diminishes each and every year, Wenger has become more aggressive in the transfer window, signing the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka for significant amounts.

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As such, it makes it increasingly difficult to decipher who Arsenal may or may not sign, especially given the mire of transfer rumours that outsiders must wade through. One name that has surfaced in recent years is Alexandre Lacazette. Rumours once again circulated when the Lyon president suggested that his star striker could be sold in the summer if a sufficient bid is made:

"“We don’t have to do anything, but as we have a squad valued at more than €170m, there will come a time when we have to cash in on that capital. So, as I did with Karim Benzema and Samuel Umtiti, if a player wants to leave and the offer is acceptable, we won’t stand in the way.”"

However, while the Lacazette rumours have rumbled on, especially in the aftermath of the revelation that a £29 million bid was rejected last summer, there has been another young, French star that has emerged as a possible target. Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe, at just 18 years of age, has established himself as a formidable talent.

He boasts a ruthless blend of pace and power, makes intelligent runs in behind and is a lethal finisher in front of goal, as evidenced by his neatly taken goal against Manchester City in the Champions League. However, he is raw. He is very inconsistent and lacks experience at the first team level, having played only a handful of games.

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It is, if Arsenal sign either of the French league’s starlet, likely that only one will come to the Emirates. Both are similar style players, both will command hefty wages and a substantial transfer fee. The question of which one, then, settles on Wenger and the club’s changing principles. Does he continue with the prospect or does he commit to the present?

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