Kylian Mbappé’s statement that he has absolutely no intention of triggering a contract extension to stay with Paris Saint-Germain beyond 2023/24 has kick-started his suitors’ plans.
Real Madrid have long been eager to get him – they had turned down a £154 million bid for him two years ago – but both Chelsea and Manchester United names have been mooted.
But when Mbappé turned down Real Madrid’s advances in 2021 to sign a mega-money deal that saw him pocket a salary package of £34 million a year – that’s more than £650,000 a week! – Prying him away from the millions seemed like a tall order.
But with no plans to stay with PSG for the long term and the French champions keen to recoup more than £150m for him, how likely is a move to England or Spain?
Mail Sport assesses the likelihood of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid…
Kylian Mbappé has sounded the alarm by revealing he intends to leave PSG after the 2023/24 season
Mbappé agreed a new two-year contract with PSG last summer – with the option of an additional season
CHELSEA
By Adrian Kajumba
Chelsea are already looking to drastic selection cuts and control over their wage bill, so Mbappé is the kind of player who would push those plans to the limit.
With a guaranteed megamoney transfer fee, even with just one year left on his contract, and equally eye-watering wages, the French superstar won’t come cheap for anyone.
Having spent £600 million in the last two windows, it is expected to be a little more measured and calculated to ensure they continue to comply with FFP.
Tying players to long-term contracts to spread the cost of the transfer fee is a method Chelsea have used in some of their deals to date and one that should definitely come into play again if they ever plan an ambitious move for Mbappé . which is currently being suppressed.
Co-owner Todd Boehly has overseen £600m spend on players – and now they want to cut back
Chelsea keen to cut spending after moving back to Manuel Ugarte (right)
On the salary issue, Chelsea’s refusal to pay exorbitant fees for midfielder Manuel Ugarte and willingness to release him to join PSG from Sporting Lisbon is an indication that they are watching their wage bill.
Reducing it is one of the objectives of the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital regime, but there is also a willingness to spend heavily on the elite names that demand nothing but the highest salaries.
Like the long contracts, it’s a different approach – one that has been loosely compared to the designated player concept – that has features of the American sporting background from which Chelsea’s owners come.
Mbappé would be one such player who fits that bill. Sources have told Mail Sport he is willing to take a hefty pay cut to join Real Madrid.
His current deal is said to be worth £62 million a year, even before his substantial bonuses. He should certainly continue to lower those demands for Chelsea.
MANCHESTER UNITED
By Chris Wheeler
While the possibility of Manchester United bidding for Kylian Mbappe is highly unlikely according to club sources, the situation at Old Trafford could soon change depending on the outcome of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s takeover battle with Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
No one knows exactly what United’s finances will look like as the Glazer family decide between the two main bidders – a decision expected soon.
Sheikh Jassim in particular would create an intriguing dynamic in the Mbappé situation given Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari ownership.
Ratcliffe would also boost United’s buying power and both men would like to sign a statement. Whether that could be Mbappé remains to be seen, as Financial Fair Play restrictions are just one of the obstacles in the way.
United’s current transfer budget would certainly not stretch to buying the French superstar who still has a year left on his contract with PSG.
Sheikh Jassim remains embroiled in a battle to win the Manchester United takeover
Manager Erik ten Hag wants to make a number of additions this summer, with a number 9 having priority
United have prioritized signing a world-class No. 9 this summer, targeting Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojland.
They are also expected to pay in the region of £60 million for Chelsea striker Mason Mount and are keen on Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae. Manager Erik ten Hag would also like to sign a defensive midfielder and a goalkeeper.
United are hoping to raise more money by selling several players and there are question marks over the futures of Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Victor Lindelof, Fred, Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek and Brandon Williams, although few of those players will be moved.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has yet to sign a new contract and finds himself in the same situation as Mbappé with one year left on his current contract.
PSG have shown strong interest in Rashford and in theory an exchange deal between the two players is not impossible. But it remains highly unlikely and United are confident that Rashford will agree new terms anyway.
REAL MADRID
By Peter Jenson
Karim Benzema would stay for the last year of his contract. And in 2024, Real Madrid would sign Mbappé on a free transfer.
He would never sign a one-year extension to his current contract in Paris.
Benzema’s decision ruined the perfect timing of that plan and left Madrid stumbling into a quick impromptu pursuit of Harry Kane and Kai Havertz. Neither deal really convinces them.
Mbappé is the one they want and now they have to wait and see how PSG owners react to the gauntlet their star player has thrown down.
Florentino Perez (left) planned to replace Karim Benzema (right) in 2024, not 2023
The move from the French striker to Saudi Arabia has sparked a rush for Real Madrid to sign a striker
Madrid will not take the first step. They are still stung by missing him twice in the last two years.
But if Mbappé gets a magic number from PSG – the amount they will accept to lose him – then he will take that to Florentino Perez and if the fee is achievable for Real Madrid, bearing in mind that PSG will probably not open stand for if paid in installments they get the player they thought they would have to wait another year for.
If the figure set is €200 million (£171 million), then despite everything Madrid have vowed not to give PSG a single euro for their player, it will be seriously considered.
Signing Kane now would cost more than €100m (£85.5m) and Mbappé being free next summer would mean paying him an eye-watering contract fee, so paying €200m (£171m) now would not necessarily be seen as a bad thing.