The 17-year-old Monaco star who can be Arsenal’s next Thierry Henry
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Kylian Mbappe. It’s a name we should all familiarise ourselves with. The 17-year-old is stunning the continent for AS Monaco this season, and is on course to become one of Europe’s greatest talents.
The teenager bagged his first professional hat-trick last night, as Monaco swept to a 7-0 thrashing over Rennes in the Coupe de la Ligue.
And with three goals and five assists from just nine games in Ligue 1 this term, Mbappe is producing stunning football to belie his tender years.
The forward has already displaced Monaco and France legend Thierry Henry as the club’s youngest player and goalscorer.
Born in the Parisian suburbs, Mbappe has been gently eased into first-team action.
Following his debut back in February, the teenager played another 10 times last season, but eight of those came from the bench.
This time around Monaco are continuing to ensure their wonderkid doesn’t play too much too soon, but five starts in the league, plus experience in the Champions League is testament to how highly Les Rouges et Blancs value Mbappe.
And the forward is revelling in a Monaco side which is scoring goals for fun under Leonardo Jardim.
The principality outfit have netted 53 goals in the league this term, averaging over three goals per game.
That’s 21 goals more than any other side in the division, and when you include their cup and Champions League results, Monaco have already netted 69 times.
Arsenal have been linked with a move – with Mbappe naturally bringing similarities to Gunners hero Henry – but the north Londoners will have to move fast if they want to secure France’s latest talent.
It won’t be easy to prise Mbappe away either, with Monaco already seeing previous academy propsects like Anthony Martial move on elsewhere in recent years.
Barcelona are just one of Europe’s big names to have been mentioned in connection with Mbappe, and the Catalan giants will doubtless increase their attention should this 17-year-old keep coming good on his wonderkid tag.
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