Arsenal: Anthony Martial report the epitome of transfer ridiculousness

Arsenal are being linked with a move for Anthony Martial if their proposed interest in Kylian Mbappe is unsuccessful. Such reports are the epitome of transfer ridiculousness.

As the summer transfer window rolls on, Arsenal’s unsuccessful search for a starring centre-forward is becoming increasingly more frustrating and wide reaching.. Arsene Wenger initiated his plans to a sign a new striker last summer, submitting offers for Alexandre Lacazette and Jamie Vardy, both of which did not result in either player coming to North London.

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However, such failures have only intensified Wenger’s thirst for a new, refreshed attacking impetus. Lacazette is again another option that has been extensively explored in recent weeks, as has young starlet Kylian Mbappe.

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The Monaco striker burst onto the European scene in the latter half of the season, leading Leonardo Jardim’s side to an unlikely Ligue 1 title and featuring impressively in a number of high-profile Champions League ties, including in wins against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. Wenger has publicly declared his admiration for the player, revealing that he tried to sign him last summer, and has made a club-record £87 million offer that was rejected.

But with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain sniffing around, and with Monaco keen to retain his services for another year or two, it is unlikely that, of all of the choice he has, Mbappe would choose Arsenal as his preferred destination. As such, there is a growing sense of realism that, if Wenger wants to sign a young, pacy attacker, he will have to look elsewhere.

For the most part, it has been Lacazette that has been rumoured as that man. However, on Saturday night, reports stated that Manchester United’s underwhelming Anthony Martial was being considered by Wenger.

Now, every right-minded football fan is aware of the transfer mania that engulfs the newspapers at this time of year. The media is rife with conjecture and deceit, concealing the real truth and exaggerating the information that sources reveal. Every report must be taken with a grain of salt, especially when it comes to Arsenal.

But the Martial reports go beyond the improbable. In fact, it is utterly implausible. First and foremost, while Jose Mourinho has criticised his defensive work-rate in the past, he has also reaffirmed his talents as a bright young star in the game. Secondly, if he did want to sell Martial, there is no chance that he would sell to Arsenal. And finally, there is little evidence to suggest that Wenger wants to sign Martial, other than the fact that he is young, French and fast, essentially Mbappe but three years older.

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Quite simply, the Martial rumours prove that the footballing transfer world has gone mad.