Odegaard, Balogun and Martinelli at PSG, England go crazy

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By: Manu Tournoux

Arsenal is counting its money in case Kylian Mbappé decides to really leave PSG and discussions with Real become tense. The idea of ​​sending several players to Paris is emerging.

The prospect of seeing Kylian Mbappé choose Arsenal in the event of a departure to the Premier League had the effect of a bomb in North London. The Gunners came very close to the title last season and they can now again attract important players, with the aim of finally recovering the Premier League 20 years after their last coronation, or of shining in a Champions League which they have never won. But attracting a player like Kylian Mbappé remains a dream. However, if ever the case of the PSG striker were to take an incredible turn with a departure from the Parisian club and difficult negotiations with Real Madrid, Arsenal can think of ways to pocket the jackpot.

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Financially, the transfer would be incredibly expensive for the resident of the Emirates Stadium, and a good way to lower the price would be to send players to PSG at the same time. The Daily Express claim that Arsenal have plenty of ideas to satisfy the French champions, even if there are only three players who could fit the bill. First up is an attacking player who is also a Brazilian international: Gabriel Martinelli. With his speed and room for improvement, he can replace Kylian Mbappé, who just scored 15 goals last season in the Premier League. And the 22-year-old Brazilian will not be retained by Arsenal, who are betting on Emile Smith Rowe to replace him in the future. Another fashionable offensive player: Folarin Balogun, who has just broken out in Ligue 1 near Reims. A year after Hugo Ekitike, making a new effort to recruit a player from the Champagne club might seem surprising, but the English surface fox, now an American international, also jumps that it will be difficult for him to win at Arsenal with the presence of Gabriel. Jesus. Suffice to say that his arrival at PSG could suit everyone.

Arsenal ready to do anything for Mbappé?

In another role, there is a player who has interested Paris for a very long time: Martin Odegaard. The former Norwegian ‘wonderkid’ has taken off after his mixed spell at Real Madrid and is now the technical leader of Mikel Arteta’s squad. Such an artist in the midfield is clearly the envy of PSG, who know, however, that Odegaard is considered unsaleable by their leaders. To the point of frustrating a possible arrival of Kylian Mbappé? For the moment, the question does not arise, especially since Nasser Al-Khelaïfi wants, for the image, to make a record sale if ever his number 7 were to leave Paris. And that doesn’t really sit well with the idea of ​​player exchanges, however talented and prestigious they may be.

Categories PSG

5 thoughts on “Odegaard, Balogun and Martinelli at PSG, England go crazy”

  1. What a completely ridiculous and pointless article.

    Arsenal will never sell or trade any of the players mentioned, they are priceless. Mbappe would fail terribly in Premier League.

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  2. Trades are rare in international football. Agents hate them because their clients get saddled with comparisons for all time. Teams are leary too, with no one wanting to Trade Mbappe for lesser lights.

    PSG might be ready for a change in approach, however. A decade of signing every big name player the club could buy and a raft of French titles, but a series of ugly Champions League exits; maybe the club is ready to actually field a team instead of a collection of players who crush over-matched poorer clubs with raw quality.

    The PSG Champions League failure is predictable. PSG plays against lesser talent every game, all year, then, in the Champions League, they play against players just as or nearly as good, but who play as a team, with well-defined roles and both on-pitch and touchline leadership. The PSG manager has been a disposable figurehead since the club signed Neymar. The players… Messi, Neymar, Mbappe are bigger stars, more powerful, and richer than their manager. He cannot instill discipline, playing style or hold players accountable, after all,, given a choice of keeping a manager or Kylian Mbappe, which would the owner choose?

    If, however, the PSG owners are ready to admit a all galacticos, all the time approach is not working, a rtrade might work, but it is difficult to see how such adeal would work for Arsenal. They have the talent to swap. Martinelli would be a loss but Trossard, Smith Rowe, and Mbappe himself would more than fill the gap. Balogun is an up and coming player and PSG has made a few very good calls on signing young players. He can score goals in France, and if he can score 22 for Stade Reims, he could probably bag 30 for PSG.

    Losing Odegaard, however; sets the Arsenal project back. Smith Rowe might be as good, and Fabio Vieira looked the part until he arrived and got buried on the bench and allowed cameos out of position at Central midfield, where he looks awkward and unconvincing. On the pitch, Arsenal need Odegaard assists and composure more than they need Mbappe’s goals. Off the pitch, the owners would have to decide that marketing revenue, club profile, and status as the home of the best player in football were worth the staggering cost and potential disruption of an Mbappe arrival.

    Add to that, Mikel Arteta’s struggle to manage star players with big egos, Mabeppe would be a massive risk both financially and in football terms.

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