Premier League giants Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost with Montpellier preferring to sell Elye Wahi ‘abroad’ rather than to a Ligue 1 rival.
There are shades of Kylian Mbappe about the way one of French football’s breakthrough talents goes about his business; a fearsome combination of searing pace, devastating directness and ruthless end product.
The ‘extraordinary’ Elye Wahi scored 19 times and set up five more for mid-table Montpellier in 2022/23.
A tally which, according to FootMercato and Made in Foot, caught the eye of Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United, to name but three.
Arsenal appear to be leading the race as things stand; FM adding that Mikel Arteta’s side are pushing to sign a jet-heeled 20-year-old who is likely to command a fee of £30 million after Montpellier rejected a bid of £22 million in the January window.
President Laurent Nicollin has already confirmed that Wahi will be allowed to leave if the price is right. What’s more, he would prefer to sell to a club outside of France, amid claims that Monaco are also hot on Wahi’s heels.
Will Arsenal win the race to sign Elye Wahi?
“I prefer that he go abroad,” Nicollin tells Via Foot. “So as not to play against me!”
“Elye Wahi has his exit slip to leave. For the moment, there are approaches, there are discussions but there is nothing concrete. The window is not yet open but that does not prevent certain clubs from (expressing their interest).
“And I think there are big clubs (who want Wahi).”
The France U21 international could follow in the footsteps of Olivier Giroud at Arsenal; Les Bleus’ all–time record goalscorer moving to the Emirates after firing Montpellier to the most unexpected of Ligue 1 titles.
1998 World Cup winner Bixente Lizarazu, meanwhile, believes Arsenal may be the ideal destination for Wahi.
“It is the principle of supply and demand,” Nicollin adds. “I have a price in my head. I refused 25 million euros plus bonuses during the month of January
“Today, I think (Wahi) knows where he wants to go. I know where his people want to go.”
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