Arsenal: Kylian Mbappe what is wanted but no longer needed

Arsenal’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappe has slowed to a standstill. With the addition of Alexandre Lacazette, he is now what is wanted, but no longer needed.

As the summer transfer window began to come to the fore, the desires of the Arsenal fans for a big-name addition were tentative ones at best. Given the hesitant history of Arsene Wenger to spend big, the lack of commanding stature of the club after slipping out of the Champions League for the first time in over two decades, and the stinginess of Stan Kroenke and the Gunners’ board, such trepidations were justified.

Related Story: 3 things Alexandre Lacazette brings to the table

However, the worries that many of us had were quickly banished. The first sign that the club were prepared to spend was the submission of an £87 million offer for Kylian Mbappe. Monaco duly rejected the offer but the intention to invest was clear.

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It is unknown whether another, improved offer was made, though it has been reported that one was considered. But it was fairly clear that Mbappe was a target that Arsenal could not attract, whether it be for a lack of funds, a lack of stature or another reason, and an alternative had to be found.

Thankfully, Wenger had the perfect alternative in mind, instead, ploughing his time, energy and resources into the signing of Alexandre Lacazette. The Lyon striker completed a medical on Tuesday with the official announcement made on Wednesday. The deal amasses to a club-record £46 million fee, which could rise to £52 million if certain clauses and incentives are met.

In signing Lacazette, that all but ends any realistic chance Arsenal had of signing Mbappe, not because Mbappe would no longer want to join the club, but simply because of cost. There is no way that the North London club could afford an outlay of over £150 million on just two players of the same position.

But that does not mean that Mbappe would have been the more exciting signing of the two. He is the younger, more talented player of the two, with the greater pedigree and potential. However, such was the need for another, more mobile centre-forward to replace Olivier Giroud, that an element of realism was needed. Ultimately, this became a quest of getting a striker, even if that meant compromising a little on quality.

Next: 3 reasons Alexandre Lacazette is a better signing than Romelu Lukaku

Mbappe may be the player that all want, even now, but he is no longer the player that can be afforded or is even needed. Arsenal would be far better served spending their money on other areas of the squad, and I fully expect them to do just that.