Arsenal make transfer move for PSG star set to be free agent in days | Football | Sport

Arsenal have reportedly made a move to sign Paris Saint-Germain starlet Emanuel Mbemba, whose current deal expires at the end of June. The Gunners and the Parisians have already locked horns in recent weeks in the Champions League final, with the latter emerging victorious in Budapest.

It now appears the two clubs will be battling it out for the gifted defender, and this time Mikel Arteta will be desperate to come out on top. According to BBC Sport, PSG have offered the 18-year-old a new contract, but he is believed to be weighing up his options.

Although he will become a free agent in just a matter of weeks, Arsenal would still be required to pay a training compensation fee expected to be just over £150,000. In order to obtain a work permit, it has been claimed that the teenager was informed he would initially be sent out on loan before potentially returning in January 2027.

The report further suggests that Mbemba is favouring a switch to the Emirates Stadium, with William Saliba’s development cited by the club as part of their pitch. However, he won’t be regarded as the ‘next Saliba’, as Arsenal view him as a long-term option at left-back.

Saliba was brought to the club in 2019 as a teenager before being loaned out to Marseille to further hone his skills. He is now a key figure in the Arsenal setup and is set to feature at the upcoming World Cup with France. Despite an outstanding season, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi will not be heading Stateside, though a move to north London could be on the cards over the coming months.

The Gunners are firmly in the hunt to sign the 19-year-old and appeared set to face stiff competition from PSG. However, reports emerging from France now suggest PSG are far more focused on securing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.

Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers is another firm target for Arsenal, with a transfer potentially possible before the World Cup kicks off. The 23-year-old is expected to play a pivotal role under Thomas Tuchel in the weeks ahead, which could push his reported £80million valuation even higher.

Player sales could free up funds for Arsenal to strengthen further, with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ben White, Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira amongst those who could be offloaded permanently. Even one of Kai Havertz or Martin Odegaard could be shown the door as Arsenal look to make ruthless yet necessary improvements to their squad.