Mikel Arteta puts Arsenal in the mix for PSG forward Kylian Mbappe

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal should be in the conversation for Kylian Mbappe this summer with the forward having decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain. 

The Kylian Mbappe transfer saga appears to be coming to a conclusion after it was revealed that the World Cup winner will not extend his stay with PSG when his contract expires in June.

The Frenchman, who has netted 31 goals in 30 games already this season, will be moving on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, with some unlikely rumours suggesting that Liverpool could be his destination.

The 25-year-old's astronomical wage demands mean that he won't be rocking up at Anfield any time soon, with Real Madrid the club most likely to secure Mbappe's services in the summer.

The Spanish giants have been courting Mbappe for some time and should finally get their man at the end of the season.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes it's only right for his side to be in the mix for Mbappe, even half-heartedly suggesting that the club's owners could be working on a deal behind the scenes.

When asked about Arsenal being in the conversation for Mbappe, Arteta stated: "Why not? If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent & the best players.

"I am not involved. Maybe Edu and the owners are, I’m not in those conversations until the last stage."

However, the Spaniard, whose Arsenal side are competing with Liverpool for the Premier League title, admitted that Mbappe's future seems to lie in a different direction.

"When there is a player of that calibre, we always have to be in that conversation," he said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend.

"But it looks in a different way, that's what I would say."

While Mbappe is yet to announce his new club, it seems inevitable that it will be Real Madrid, and he will join a star-studded squad at the Santiago Bernabeu that also includes previous Liverpool target Jude Bellingham.

The Reds are expected to be busy next summer but need to hire a sporting director and Jurgen Klopp's successor before they can consider exploring transfer deals.