Where will Mbappe play next season?
Mbappe: Where will he be next season?
Kylian Mbappe has told Paris St-Germain he won’t be renewing his contract beyond 2024 but does want to stay next season. Mbappe’s camp appeared to indicate that a move to Real Madrid was not the intention this summer, and Los Blancos expensive signing of Jude Bellingham might make it difficult to pull off the deal this summer. Since the news broke there appears to have been very little development. However, while Mbappe has stated that he intends to honour the final year of his contract and play for PSG next season, the French Champions will not want to risk losing the 24-year-old forward for nothing next summer.
Only a few teams could realistically afford to pay Mbappe. German giants Bayern Munich have already appeared to have ruled themselves out due to the estimated size of the fee.
So what are the options for Mbappe this summer? Where will be playing next season? What will PSG do to solve the issue? Betting.com look at the different possibilities for next season.
Stay at PSG
Last summer it looked like Mbappe might be heading for the exit before he committed to PSG. It would not be a surprise to see something similar happen this time around. During his time in Paris it was rumoured that Mbappe wanted to leave on several occasions, but he has remained.
Furthermore Mbappe has stated publicly that he intends to stay for the final year of his contract. However, this may not suit all parties. PSG may be one of the richest clubs in the world, but the difference between Mbappe commanding a transfer fee of well over £100m and him leaving for nothing is huge for any club.
Both Mbappe and PSG are set on winning the Champions League and this joint ambition could see him remain. Though as stated the prospect of such a valuable asset leaving for nothing may make this a non-starter for the club.
The situation would no doubt suit Mbappe. He would have another year to have a crack at the Champions League with PSG and could look forward to extra cash in his signing on fee and salary if he was to move on a free transfer.
Real Madrid
Mbappe looked destined to sign for Real Madrid only last year. The Frenchman has been long admired by Los Blancos, he had, reportedly, agreed a financial package with both Madrid and PSG as he considered his future before the expiration of his contract last June.
Madrid had been willing to pay 150m euros (£127m) as a signing-on fee and a wage of 40m euros (£34m). Mbappe, however, chose to accept a big-money new deal and stay at PSG. Mbappe was, though, quoted as saying that the dream of playing for Real Madrid is “never over”.
The departure of Ballon d’Or winner, Mbappe’s fellow countryman Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia means Madrid are in the market for a striker, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane having been discussed. They have recently signed 33-year-old former Stoke City and Newcastle United striker Joselu from Espanyol. Joselu is a classic late developer, having made his debut for the Spanish national team this year. It is possible that Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti may still want another forward.
Having already spent £115m on Jude Bellingham this window Madrid may not be able to spend the sort of money needed to secure Mbappe, which could possibly exceed £200m.
Though if Mbappe, a long-term target, was to become available Madrid would find the opportunity difficult to turn down. While Mbappe snubbed a move to the Bernabeu last summer, it appears that he still has ambitions to be a Madrid player, and to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Some reports have suggested that there has been dialogue between the two clubs about the possibility of a move.
This is a story which does not go away so if it does not happen this summer do not be surprised to see Mbappe moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024.
Liverpool
Back in 2020 Mbappe made positive comments about Liverpool and theirboss Jurgen Klopp, describing the team as “a machine” and the German as a “very good manager”.
Liverpool have been linked with Mbappe in the past, though Klopp stated that the Frenchman was out of Liverpool’s price range.
While a deal cannot be ruled out, another stumbling block could be the Reds’ lack of Champions League football in the coming season.
Manchester United
Manchester United are another huge club who are in the market for a forward and could possibly be one of the few clubs able to fund the transfer. However, Mbappe prefers to play off the left, rather than as a traditional number nine and financial fair play could rule out such a large transfer. Uncertainty over the club’s future ownership also remains.
Chelsea
Chelsea have spent hugely over the last couple of windows, to very little avail with a disappointing 12th place finish in the Premier League. Despite the obvious appeal of a club which as won and challenged for major trophies at home and abroad over the past 20 years, the lack of any sort of European football next season make it difficult to imagine the deal happening.
Manchester City
A forward line containing Mbappe and Erling Haaland would be a frightening prospect for the rest of the league, however, City have other priorities in the transfer market this summer. Therefore Mbappe is unlikely to link up with Pep Guardiola at this stage.
Saudi Arabia
Teams from the Saudi Pro League have enjoyed an increasing amount of success in the transfer market since the January window.
Cristiano Ronaldo went to Saudi in January and his former Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema followed this summer. Both are earning huge salaries and while the league was seen as a great place for a swansong for superstars, international class players at their peak, such as Portugal star Ruben Neves have followed suit. The league looks likely to grow in strength.
A club in the Saudi Pro League signing a peak Mbappe would send shockwaves throughout football, and the sporting world as a whole. There are a number of clubs in the league who could genuinely afford Mbappe, and a move there could make him one of the world’s highest paid sportsmen.
Once again, the lure of the Champions League could be a preventative factor, however, once more world class players commit to Saudi clubs, and that appears to be the way things are going, do not rule out a move of this magnitude from a Pro League club in the future.
Transfer Window Gathers Pace
As the transfer window hots up there is constant speculation about the futures of many players, including Mbappe. We will watch any developments with interest.