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Premier League side Arsenal have made a concrete €100m offer for AS Monaco forward Kylian Mbappé, according to L’Équipe.

The Gunners, in the largest bid the club has ever made for a footballer in their history, have moved into attack mode following the 2-year contract extension of Arsène Wenger.

Wenger was exceptionally close to convincing Mbappé to sign a professional contract with Arsenal last summer, having even visited the player in Monaco in an attempt to make the move work.

The Mbappé clan has been previously noted to have enormous respect for Wenger, but Real Madrid and Manchester City have both made very forceful bids too, verbal offers of around €120m, with Manchester United also rumoured to have bid for the player .

As it stands, it would appear that Real Madrid (Mbappé’s eventual dream club) lead the race for Mbappé, with Manchester United in last place because the player does not like the way they play football, the latter assertion has been reported by L’Équipe before.

It is important to note that the exact nature of the fees offered to AS Monaco this summer are unlikely to have a real impact on Mbappé’s destination. The Principality side do not need to sell – rather they will respect whatever Mbappé’s wish is and act accordingly.

Monaco have in the meantime made Mbappé a contract extension offer.

Friday 2nd June – 07:00 BST:

The L’Équipe report in full published this morning has additional claims within it to add to our reporting from last night.

They claim that Arsenal will attack this transfer window like never before with the intention to sign a world class player in every single line of the field (presumably all four: goalkeeper, defence, midfield, attack). They also assert that the €120m figure that was reported in the press in recent days as the club’s budget was put out there falsely.

Despite Arsenal’s bid being a club record offer, it is underneath Manchester City and Real Madrid’s and it comes from a club that will miss out on the Champions’ League for the first time since 1997.

The French daily asserts that Wenger is prepared to place Kylian Mbappé at the centre of the club’s project. At the beginning of 2016, Arsenal were one of three sides vying for Mbappé’s signature on a professional contract, alongside Liverpool and PSG.

Mbappé’s future will not be clear for several weeks. Mbappé and his entourage continue to refuse to speak to any club whatsoever until after his season is completely finished, a very unique approach which they should be praised for.

Mbappé is also very far from excluding the possibility of staying another season at Monaco, where he still has another two years contract. Like his team-mates, his decision could depend on how many of Monaco’s stars the club hold on to this summer.

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Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson praised Scott Barrett’s captaincy in his side’s 15-3 victory over the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday.

The replay of last season’s final was a tightly contested game, and the line-out proved to be a huge influence on the result.

Praise for the captain

Robertson felt his skipper controlled this facet of the game brilliantly and showed impressive composure throughout the clash.

“Scott Barrett’s captaincy was incredible,” Robertson told Sky Sport.

“13 [first-half] line-outs, and he threw all the variations at them. At half-time, he was composed. He knew what we had and hadn’t used and what we were going to do in the second.

“We wanted to make them tackle, and they did.

“The breakdown was where we won lots of little races. We didn’t allow them to get access to our ball.”

Something to work on

Meanwhile, Blues boss Leon MacDonald admitted the line-out is a weakness in his side and with second-row Sam Darry set to be sidelined for a while, he is looking for someone to step up into that void.

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“It’s an area that has been an Achilles heel, but with Sam [Darry] in particular, he’s done a really good job in that space. We need somebody to step up and take the reins,” he said.

“We’re doing a lot of good work in that space, but we weren’t quite right; a couple where the throws weren’t quite right, or we didn’t quite get the calling right. It’s an area that’s got to be good if you’re going to win the title at the end of the year.”

The Blues travel to face the Reds in Queensland before two home games against the Hurricanes and Highlanders at the end of the regular season. MacDonald is confident his side will make the play-offs, and from there, anything can happen.

“We’ve got a little run home that’s going to give us an opportunity to make the play-offs, and once you’re in the play-offs, it’s all go, so there’s still plenty to play for,” he said.

Ligue 1 side FC Metz have made contact with second division side Valenciennes for 21-year-old left-back Moussa Niakhaté, according to L’Équipe.

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This news comes after Les Grenats decided not to extend 35-year-old left-back Franck Signorino’s contract.

Bulls director of rugby Jake White is in a confident mood ahead of his side’s United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

White believes the Stormers are the favourites but said his team “have a history of playing really well in big games”.

This weekend’s encounter is a repeat of last year’s final which the Stormers won 18-13 at the same venue – a match which was part of a five-match winning streak against their arch rivals from Pretoria, after they also beat the Bulls at home and away in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.

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White‘s troops reached that final after clinching a shock 27-26 away victory against Irish heavyweights Leinster in their semi-final.

That result is viewed as the biggest upset of last season but White feels beating the Stormers this weekend will also be a huge achievement, although he doesn’t like it when he is reminded of his team’s record in the URC against the men from the Cape.

Not underestimating the champions

“I think you’re being disrespectful to the Stormers if you say last year (against Leinster) was a bigger ask,” the former Springbok coach told IOL. “These are champions… These guys won the competition.

“But five times… It’s irrelevant. It’s absolutely irrelevant how many times they’ve won before. The players are in the right space. It’s knockout rugby now, and a couple of months ago, we had no chance of making the playoffs.

“If I read all the articles, we were doom and gloom. We had, in everyone’s eyes, a poor season after ending sixth on the log. Some teams play really well and end up fifth and fourth…

“So, it’s a massive challenge, I am not disputing that. But it’s a knockout game now, and one thing we have managed to do over time is to play really well in games that have counted, where we’ve had to win and knock people out of competitions.

“That’s all I can trust myself and the team on – we’ve got a history of playing really well in those big games.

“And it’s going to be massive: I heard there’s going to be 38 000 tickets sold, and we played in that final last year and it was an unbelievable occasion.”

Speaking to reporters following France’s 3-2 victory over England, Kylian Mbappé laid out his plans for the coming weeks.

“We are going to go away as a family and think about what will happen. We are going to have to sort through (offers), what is going on with the club, because I am under contract with a club, I am not free, and we will see what happens… Real Madrid? They have been trying to sign me since I was 14.”

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Bath head coach Johann van Graan admits his side needs “to get a lot better” after qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup.

It took a brilliant 61-29 win over a weakened Saracens to claim the last spot on the final day at the expense of Bristol, who missed out due to a lower points difference.

Excited for Europe

Van Graan is excited to be in the prestigious competition next season but admits his side will have to improve a lot before then.

“It’s a competition I love,” he said.

“I look forward to taking Bath into that competition, and whoever we get is to be determined.

“I’m looking forward to it. We need to get a lot better though.”

End of the road for some

The boss reflected on the departures of several players at the club and believes part of their performance was due to that.

“For a lot of very good people, the train will stop tomorrow and they will get off,” he said.

“We talked from the beginning about connection, clarity and commitment. You saw that commitment here today.”

More clarity

Looking ahead, Van Graan admits the team has a lot of development to come but is pleased that there is now a “clear” identity to Bath’s game.

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He added: “We still have a long way to go. We said we had to become tough to beat and I feel we have. There’s a clear way we play the game now. We became fitter and better. All credit to the players.”

Saracens fell away in the second half at the Rec as Bath found their rhythm, with Van Graan delighted with the efforts regardless of the fact that the league leaders fielded a weakened team.

“Irrespective of who they put out, that’s a very well coached team, and with a system I’ve got a lot of respect for. They kept us busy in the first half and it took some magic tackling to keep them out,” he said.

34-year-old defender-come-midfielder Mathieu Bodmer will join newly-promoted to Ligue 1 side Amiens, according to Le Courrier Picard.

Bodmer has been informed by his current club EA Guingamp that they will not be offering him a new deal when is current contract expires at the end of the month.

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Stormers number eight Evan Roos is bracing himself for a ‘physical’ encounter against the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final against the Bulls.

Last year’s finalist face off in the first playoff on Saturday, and following an injury-laden season, Roos is keen to make his mark in the same loose trio that won the competition last season.

The 23-year-old Springbok returned from injury in the penultimate round of the regular season, coming off the bench in the loss to Munster before starting against Benetton a week later.

Back in action

Roos is relishing the upcoming rematch of last season’s URC final and said he was concerned that he would not return in time from the business end of the tournament. 

“It’s been awesome being back and able to play again. I originally thought I was going to struggle, but it’s been good actually,” he told the Stormers’ official website. 

“The rehab went well, and we worked really hard; I’m feeling better each game.

“I’m just happy I’m running again normally, as I did before, and the knee is giving me no problems at all.”

He added: “Obviously, when I first got injured, I was kind of stressing about the rest of the season; how it was going to pan out, how long I would be out, etc.”

 “But things worked out quite well and got back just in time for the business end of the competition.

North-South derby

Ross is looking forward to the clash with the Bulls, a team the Stormers have a good record against in recent matchups.

The Capetonians have won their last five games against the Pretoria outfit, a run that includes the previous four league encounters and last season’s final. 

“I’m happy to be a part of this week’s match because knockout rugby is the best kind of rugby, and it is lekker to be in the mix,” he added.

“It’s a North-South derby, and you cannot expect anything less than a physical and really good game, with them bringing their A-game as always.

“The Vodacom Bulls are tough opponents, and respect is due where it’s due. They’re a quality outfit, and it’s going to be a spectacle. It’s kind of why we play this game, for these types of moments, and the DHL Stormers and I can’t wait for this weekend.”

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Star back row

Roos has impressed on his return from injury, and ahead of the playoff clash with the Bulls, Stormers boss John Dobson will have the services of veteran backrower Deon Fourie.

Fourie, Roos and Hacjivah Dayimani started in the loose trio that sealed the title last season and could reunite once again against the Bulls.

Fourie is fit again from an eyesocket injury, and Roos is eager to feature in the same back row once again. 

“I must say it’s great being reunited with Brannas and Hacjivah, it’s been a while since we’ve played together, and we had a pretty good season together last year,” he said.

“It makes it even more special for us three to be playing together again in the Vodacom URC quarter-finals. I’m really sure we’re going to enjoy it.”

READ MORE: Seven South African players to watch during the URC quarter-finals

After a sensational season in which their young side smashed PSG’s Ligue 1 monopoly, Monaco’s transfer window was bound to be fascinating.

Interest from Europe’s super clubs was rumoured early in the campaign and only intensified as they made a surprising drive to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Virtually all of Monaco’s key players were linked with moves away.

The predicted exodus has not yet come to pass but Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Nabil Dirar (Fenerbahce) and Valère Germain (OM) have been sold and back-up goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis left on a free transfer.

It seems likely that Tiemoué Bakayoko will also join Chelsea before long. Such losses would shatter most clubs. Monaco are among the world’s best players of the transfer market. They are not most clubs. After their 2004 Champions League Final defeat, following a fairytale run through the competition’s knockout stages not dissimilar to last season’s, Monaco lost a number of key players.

Dado Prso joined Rangers, Ludovic Giuly went to Barcelona, Fernando Morientes returned to Real Madrid and Edouard Cisse was recalled by PSG. Each had played in the Final defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Porto. In came Javier Saviola from Barcelona, the rugged Diego Perez and future Inter legend Maicon. Far from collapsing, Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups. In 2014, Eric Abidal, James Rodriguez, Emmanuel Riviere, Radamel Falcao and manager Claudio Ranieri all left. In their place came new boss Leonardo Jardim and Fabinho, Silva and Bakayoko — all heroes of the 2017 title.

This summer, Monaco moved swiftly and decisively to ensure next season’s title defence will be worthy of the name. The first signing, Youri Tielemans, was a real coup. The 20-year-old broke through last season with 18 goals and 16 assists from midfield as Anderlecht won the Belgian title. His long-range strikes were social media sensations but Tielemans was at the heart of everything Anderlecht did. His move to Monaco is a perfect one. His physical strength will protect him as he adapts to the new level of Ligue 1.

Having rejected Manchester City because of concerns over playing time, it seems as though Tielemans is quite sensible – or at least well advised. Tielemans looks young but he’s a leader and a winner. He has been nicknamed the ‘Baby Boss’ of Anderlecht and he’s as close as you can get to a sure-fire successful signing.

Zulte Waregem defensive midfielder Soualiho Meite was the next to join. A once highly-rated youngster, Meite’s career stalled with Lille and he spent the last 18 months on loan with Zulte in Belgium, before the Belgian side activated a buy clause only to sell him on immediately. This spell proved regenerative as he blossomed into a ball-winning machine. Strong, fast and big (6 foot 2 and 12.5 stone), the 23-year-old will be Bakayoko’s understudy or like-for-like replacement if the Frenchman leaves.

Veteran Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio also joined as a replacement for the outgoing De Sanctis. De Sanctis only managed one clean sheet last season, that in a 13-minute injury interrupted start against Fenerbahce. Veteran of over 300 appearances for Wolfsburg, Benaglio provides an assured back-up presence.

In June, Lyon’s Jordy Gaspar caused a minor controversy, signing professional terms with Monaco instead of his boyhood club. Having shone in the UEFA Youth League, Gaspar was handed a Champions League debut last September but when he refused to sign a contract, he was frozen out. Only 20, he’s an attacking right-back, capable on the left, with supreme physical tools. His technique needs refining but he may prove to be yet another shrewd Monaco recruit.

Monaco’s final recruit may prove their finest. Jordi Mboula, the jewel of Barcelona’s academy, was snatched for €3m. Mboula’s sensational UEFA Youth League goals, of which he scored eight, showed his serious talent. Usually playing on the right of the front three, Mboula has been described as a winger but is really a wide forward. Tall, deceptively quick and elegant, Mboula is reminiscent of a young Thierry Henry. So much so that he is nicknamed ‘Titi.’The prospect of Mboula lining up alongside Kylian Mbappé is tantalising for everyone except whoever will have to try to defend against them.

Five new signings will be joined in Monaco’s squad by a number of exciting youngsters returning from loan spells. Former Manchester City academy prospect Rony Lopes scored four goals and laid on four more for Lille last season and will be pushing to take Bernardo Silva’s now absent place. Allan Saint-Maximin, an endlessly pacy and skilful forward, completed more dribbles than any other Ligue 1 player at Bastia in the last campaign. He too will push for a place.

Monaco have done excellent work in this window. If they manage to keep most of the title-winning squad intact, they’ll have impressive depth. If, as expected, more big-names depart, Jardim will have the tools to build a new team for the title defence.

S.R.

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The Premiership resumes on Friday with two matches as Bristol Bears take on Sale Sharks and Gloucester host Bath in the big West Country derby.

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks

England international Harry Randall will make his 100th appearance for Bristol Bears in their Premiership clash with Sale Sharks on Friday.

The scrum-half, who co-captains the side alongside Steven Luatua, will become the 51st player to reach the milestone and the ninth youngest.

Randall continues his half-back partnership with AJ MacGinty, while in midfield, Academy centre Joe Jenkins replaces the injured Semi Radradra at outside centre.

There’s also a return to action for Joe Batley in the second-row, with Magnus Bradbury returning to number eight.

Meanwhile, double Curry is on the menu for Sale as Tom returns from a hamstring injury to join brother Ben in the Sharks line-up.

Director of rugby Alex Sanderson has picked an unchanged backline with the only changes coming in the pack, as Tom Curry wears the number six shirt, replacing Jono Ross, who slots in at number eight in place of the injured Dan du Preez.

Simon McIntyre for Bevan Rodd is the only front-row change with the Mancunian prop lining up alongside Akker van der Merwe and Nick Schonert.

Jean-Luc du Preez and Jonny Hill team up once again in the second-row, with Tom Curry, captain Ben Curry and Ross in the back-row.

Scrum-half Gus Warr starts again alongside George Ford at half-back, with Manu Tuilagi and Rob du Preez outside them in the centres.

In an unchanged back three, Tom Roebuck will line up alongside fellow speedsters Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Carpenter.

Ewan Ashman, Bevan Rodd and Coenie Oosthuizen make up the front-row replacements, with Josh Beaumont and Sam Dugdale covering the rest of the forwards.

Homegrown trio Raffi Quirke, Sam James and Arron Reed are the rest of the substitutes.

Form: Bristol Bears’ four game winning run in Premiership Rugby ended with their 24-46 defeat at Leicester in Round 21. Bristol have won their last three Premiership fixtures at Ashton Gate since their 26-all draw there with Leicester on 3 December. The last time the Bears lost at the venue in the competition was when Saracens were the visitors on 5 November. Sale Sharks have won just one of their last four Premiership matches: 35-24 at home to Saracens on 5 March. The Sharks have won only once away from home in Premiership Rugby since early October: 24-18 over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on 8 January. Sale’s only defeat in their last six encounters with Bristol in Premiership Rugby was 15-32 on their most recent visit to Ashton Gate in January 2022.

The teams:

Bristol: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall (cc), 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Fitz Harding, 6 Steven Luatua (cc), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Batley, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Sam Jeffries, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Ioan Lloyd

Sale: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Jono Ross 7 Ben Curry (c), 6 Tom Curry, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Jean-Luc du Preez, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Simon McIntyre
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Sam James, 23 Arron Reed

Date: Friday, April 14
Venue: Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Andrew Jackson
TMO: Dean Richards

𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮. 👊

The Cherry & Whites side to face Bath at Kingsholm is in. 🍒

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— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) April 13, 2023

Gloucester v Bath

Gloucester have made two changes to their starting side that went down to La Rochelle as they prepare to face Bath in the Premiership on Friday.

Argentina international Mayco Vivas starts in the front-row, after making his first Gloucester start in La Rochelle two weeks ago.

He is joined by young hooker Seb Blake and Jamal Ford-Robinson, who replaces the injured Kirill Gotovtsev.

Freddie Clarke, who was awarded try of the round for his acrobatic score in La Rochelle, combines with Matias Alemanno in the second-row once more.

The Premiership’s top ball carrier, Ruan Ackermann, also picked up an injury in La Rochelle, so he’s replaced in the back-row by experienced Ben Morgan.

Morgan packs down at eight, with Jack Clement switching to blindside flanker. Captain Lewis Ludlow starts at openside.

The backline is unchanged from the Cherry and Whites’ narrow Champions Cup exit a fortnight ago.

Stephen Varney and Billy Twelvetrees are the half-backs, with Seb Atkinson and Chris Harris in midfield.

Ollie Thorley, Louis Rees-Zammit and Santi Carreras form a dangerous back three.

On the bench, Ciaran Knight comes in to cover the front-row alongside Henry Walker ad Harry Elrington.

Cam Jordan and Freddie Thomas offer more forward cover.

Charlie Chapman, George Barton and Jonny May are on standby for the backs.

Meanwhile, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has made two changes to his backline for the trip to their West Country rivals.

Academy graduate Max Ojomoh comes into the centre to partner England international Ollie Lawrence while Tom de Glanville returns at full-back meaning a switch to the wing for Matt Gallagher.

The team is otherwise unchanged from the win over Exeter Chiefs last time out. Captain Ben Spencer and Orlando Bailey make up the half-back positions and wing Joe Cokanasiga completes the back division.

Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Will Stuart combine in the front row, backed up by the second-row pairing of Josh McNally and GJ van Velze.

Ted Hill, Chris Cloete and Miles Reid make up the back-row.

Form: Gloucester’s only victory in their last six Premiership Rugby matches was 28-26 at home to Harlequins on 17 February. This is also the Cherry and Whites’ only victory at Kingsholm in their last four encounters in all competitions. Bath’s five game losing run in the Premiership ended with their 36-19 eclipsing of Exeter Chiefs at the Recreation Ground in Round 21. Bath’s only away victory in the competition in the past 12 months was 17-10 t Newcastle on 5 November. Gloucester have won their last three fixtures against Bath in Premiership Rugby since Bath’s 16-14 win at the Rec in February 2021. Bath’s most recent victory at Kingsholm in Premiership Rugby was 43-20 in April 2018.

The teams:

Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jack Clement, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Mayco Vivas
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Freddie Thomas, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 George Barton, 23 Jonny May

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Miles Reid, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Ted Hill, 5 GJ van Velze, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Valeriy Morozov, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Max Green, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Josh Bayliss

Date: Friday, April 14
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Jack Makepeace
TMO: Tom Foley

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