Kylian Mbappe has had the most direct approach thrown at him by French rivals Paris Saint-Germain, with Unai Emery directly urging him to snub Arsenal for PSG.
The forward has been linked with pretty much every big club in Europe this season, after a thoroughly impressive break-through campaign, which included scoring in each of his first four Champions League knockout matches.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is believed to be in Spain, and speculation hints at a possible deal to bring him to the Emirates this summer, but his attempt to lure him may have taken a huge blow.
Unai Emery has told the press directly that Mbappe should join PSG over any of their European rivals.
He said: ‘When we speak of Mbappe here in Spain, we talk about Real or Barca. But I’m at PSG and I say: “What could be more beautiful than representing a French team?”
‘With all respect to Monaco, he should come to Paris, he has family here. His parents live here, he went to an academy here.
‘We spoke of feeling, passion, desire – and what could be more beautiful than representing your city and being important?
‘Obviously, I am biased, but that’s the feeling I had when I debuted for Real Sociedad.
‘I don’t know if Real like him, or if Barcelona do or Tottenham or Arsenal do. But if he has to leave Monaco, I say: ‘What is better for him, for France, for PSG, that there be a union between the player and his city.
‘I say it as I feel it.’
He added: ‘It’s true that he’s going to become an icon, one of the icons of football in the future.’
Will this put a huge dent in our attempts to land Mbappe? Did we stand a chance regardless?
Pat J