Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal transfer plan crumbles amid FFP and squad reality

The dream scenario that Kylian Mbappe could come to Arsenal is an exciting one for sure and sparks plenty of discussion amongst the supporters who fantasise about the possibility of the Frenchman coming to north London. CBS didn’t help with the hype asThierry Henry played dumb to the comical back and fourth between Jamie Carragher and Kate Abdo on Tuesday night’s Champions League coverage.

The reality of a move has already been discussed byfootball.london with the finances of the move shattering the club’s wage structure. In addition, Profit and Sustainability Regulations and Financial Fair Play concerns have already taken their toll on the club’s business.

January was barren and the summer will come to provide respite to the club’s ambitions in the market but forking out the inevitable major signing-on fee and astronomical wages would put pay to other needs in the team. The centre-forward, wide areas, midfield and defence are all going to be in need of reinforcement and to throw that away to sign Mbappe even with his quality makes little sense.

There is also the classic technique of adding up a group of players' wages and arguing, ‘Well, if we get them off the books that opens up the room to sign Mbappe!’ Were it so easy…

For instance, if Arsenal were to move on a group of their more sellable players or expendable talent like Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey amongst others then the arrival of Mbappe might well be offset. However the impact on the depth would be disastrous.

Big gaps suddenly open in the squad that need to be filled and to fill them costs transfer fees and at the very minimum it costs wages too if indeed they could be “free” moves