Arsenal: Kylian Mbappe second bid seems useless

Arsenal are reportedly readying a second offer for Kylian Mbappe, with Olivier Giroud in the offing as a makeweight. However, Monaco seem unwilling to sell and the offer seems a little useless.

The longest-running transfer saga of the summer so far is set to remain at the forefront of the news cycle for some time. Per a report from the Evening Standard, Arsenal are readying a second offer for Kylian Mbappe after their initial £87 million bid was emphatically rejected by a Monaco board likely trying to inspire a bidding war between a number of different suitors, including cash-rich Real Madrid.

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However, this is, allegedly, not the normal second offer. Arsene Wenger is apparently pondering the possibility of using Olivier Giroud as a makeweight in the deal to appease Monaco’s loss of a star striker if Mbappe was to leave.

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In principle, it seems like a rather sensible offer. If Mbappe was to enter the Emirates, then Giroud’s use would be significantly diminished. Using him as a way to lessen the price, then, is a smart way to gain some value from a player who wouldn’t be heavily featured anyway. Right? Well, probably not.

As the narrative of Mbappe and his future continues to unfold, it is becoming clearer and clearer that Monaco are increasingly unwilling to sell this summer, unless a truly blockbuster offer is made that then becomes impossible to turn down. Unfortunately for Arsenal and Wenger, offering Giroud in a swap deal is not quite the blow-your-socks-off deal that Monaco are holding out for.

Moreover, Mbappe has stated that his biggest desire is to win the Champions League, a competition that, not only Arsenal are currently not in, but have not looked close to being of the standard to challenge for it for over a decade. Madrid, on the other hand, have won the prestigious European competition three out of the past years and offer the best chance for Mbappe to announce himself on the biggest stage of all.

As the context is set for this second offer, from the lack of convincing power that Giroud provides to Monaco’s unwillingness to sell to Mbappe’s clearly better fit with Real, it is becoming increasingly useless. As the narrative unfolds, it is clear that Arsenal are chasing dreams in their pursuit of Mbappe.

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Does that mean a deal cannot happen? No. Of course not. But it is very unlikely, and Giroud will not tip the scales for Wenger.