Updated: 6 Jun 2026 10:23 BST |
4 min read
Arsenal are planning a dose of revenge on PSG for their Champions League final loss by swooping to sign one of the brightest talents from the Parc des Princes club in a move branded a “dirty trick” by the French media.
A week on from the Gunners’ defeat on penalties in Bucharest, Mikel Arteta’s side are seeking to make strides in the transfer window.
While there has apparently been little progress on any of the Premier League side’s major targets – several of whom including Junior Kroupi, Julian Alvarez and Morgan Rogers they share with PSG – they are studying the possibility of swooping for promising defender Emmanuel Mbemba, Le Parisien reports.
Emmanuel Mbemba: Arsenal fight interest from Barcelona and Bayern
Arsenal have tracked the 18-year-old extensively this season, according to the French source.
Mbemba is a left-sided centre-back primarily but is also capable of playing as a full-back. He was a member of the PSG squad that lost to Real Madrid in the final of the UEFA Youth League on penalties and also captained the U19 team to victory in the prestigious Coupe Gambardella – France’s equivalent of the FA Youth Cup.
Although there is an offer for a professional contract on the table from PSG, the indications are that he is minded to leave the club in the summer.
Arsenal are not the only team chasing Mbemba, though. He was previously linked with a move to Bayern Munich in March by L’Equipe, which also indicated that Bayer Leverkusen have been tracking the player, while in February there was a strong suggestion in the Spanish press he could move to Barcelona.
There is also the prospect of moving to their next-door neighbours Paris FC.
And the Gunners face an additional complication. Mbemba falls short of the required points to get a work permit for the UK, so if he were signed, he would have to be loaned out to another team in Europe to allow him to meet these requirements.
FootMercato, which describes Arsenal’s move for the youngster as a ‘dirty trick’, indicates that the North London side have already explored options in France to send Mbemba back on loan, and it may be that Paris FC have a role to play in the deal in this case.
Saliba comparisons are inevitable
As a left-sided centre-back arriving with a big reputation, naturally, there will be comparisons drawn with William Saliba if Arsenal are successful in snapping up Mbemba.
Saliba’s signing, though, came about in different circumstances. He had already shone in Saint-Etienne’s first team when he hook up with the Gunners in a deal worth €30m.
If Mbemba is as successful as his compatriot – who he could surely learn from – this would be a priceless piece of transfer business for Arsenal.
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