---
title: "Not again? Arsenal backtracked on bargain deal to snap up Mbappe"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/not-again-arsenal-backtracked-on-bargain-deal-to-snap-up-mbappe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Hams"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2017-03-24T15:33:39Z"
modified: "2017-03-24T15:44:51Z"
---

# Not again? Arsenal backtracked on bargain deal to snap up Mbappe

**Arsenal fans need no excuse to rage at Arsene Wenger right now and punters here in the Transfer Tavern are livid after reading [Mercato365](https://www.mercato365.com/l1-monaco-arsenal-a-rate-kylian-mbappe-3395200.html)’s report that the Gunners backtracked on a deal to sign Kylian Mbappe for a ‘derisory sum’ before he penned a new deal at Monaco last year.**

The 18-year-old forward is currently one of the most sought after young players on the planet, with teams such as Manchester United [reportedly](https://www.cope.es/noticias/futbol/monaco-rechaza-una-oferta-del-united-por-mbappe-110-millones-euros-madrid-preguntado-por-jugador_37828) willing to spend €110m (£95.2m) to sign him this summer.

And now [Mercato365](https://www.mercato365.com/l1-monaco-arsenal-a-rate-kylian-mbappe-3395200.html) have revealed that he could be an Arsenal player now, but that the club backed out of a potential swoop for him which would have been a bargain given the figures being bandied around.

They state that north London scout Gilles Grimandi spotted the player some time ago and that the club were in advanced negotiations regarding a move for him before they decided to pull out.

The reasons for this are unclear, with anything from salary demands to first-team opportunities potentially enough to sway negotiations.

The timing of these talks is not clear, but they are said to have taken place before he committed himself to a professional contract at Monaco in February 2016.

Arsenal have a history of missing out on talented young players, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among others, having came close to joining the club in their formative years.

***Arsenal cannot progress with Arsene Wenger as manager – agree?***

[![](https://secserv.adtech.de/adserv/3.0/1639/6275679/0/16/ADTECH;loc=300)](https://secserv.adtech.de/adlink/3.0/1639/6275679/0/16/ADTECH;loc=300)