Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe has dominated the headlines during the first few weeks of the summer transfer window after sparking speculation about his future. The 24-year-old is now in the final 12 months of his contract at the Parc des Princes, leading to plenty of links with an exit.
Mbappe has informed PSG that he will not exercise his option to extend his current deal by a year – meaning he can leave the club for free next summer. PSG are desperate not to lose the France international on a free transfer next year and have made a clear stance on his future: be sold or sign a new contract.
Real Madrid have emerged as the most likely destination for the prolific forward, although it is currently unclear whether the Spanish giants can afford to sanction a move. Premier League sides Chelsea and Arsenal have also been mentioned as potential alternatives soccer.london have gathered all the latest speculation about Mbappe’s future below.
Mbappe behavior slammed
Former PSG sporting director Leonardo has criticized Kylian Mbappe’s behavior in an interview with The team. He told the French publication: “For the sake of PSG, I think the time has come for Mbappe to go, no matter what. Paris-Saint-Germain existed before Kylian Mbappe and it will exist after him. He has been in Paris for six years, and during those six seasons five different clubs have won the Champions League (Real Madrid in 2018 and 2022, Liverpool in 2019, Bayern Munich in 2020, Chelsea in 2021 and Manchester City in 2023), none of which had Mbappe in their That means it’s entirely possible to win this competition without him.”
“With his behavior over the last two years, Mbappe shows that he is not yet a player who is really able to guide a team. He is a great player, not a leader. He is a great goalscorer, not a creative . It’s hard to build a team around him.”
Arsenal warning sent by the Gunners icon
Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has warned his old club of the dangers of potentially destroying their wage structure to sign Kylian Mbappe. Smith told Gambling zone: “I would think the chances of Mbappe joining Arsenal are extremely unlikely.
“The money that it would take to get him would be astronomical. I think the only place he can go is Real Madrid. I think that’s the only place and it’s probably the place he wants to go too.
“Financially, we know the club is run very well. I think Arsenal would be very conscious of the wage structure they have in place, which has to be tightly controlled.
“I would be very surprised if they were to smash it with the signing of Mbappe, as great as it would be to have him because he is one of the best players in the world. I don’t think it is very likely .”
Fresh PSG attitude
“My position is very clear and I will not repeat it every time,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told a press conference last week. “We want Kylian to stay, but if he wants to stay, we want him to sign a new contract.
“We don’t want to let the best player in the world go for free, it’s impossible. PSG is a French club, it’s his city and he’s already said he doesn’t want to leave for free.
“If today someone made him change his mind, it is not my fault. I say it again, we will not let one of the best players in the world go for free, that is very clear. I will not repeat.”
Damn interview
Mbappe has claimed that playing for PSG has not helped the way the public see him because the Ligue 1 giants are a “divisive” club.
During an interview with France football, the French international revealed his desire to be seen in the same light as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. “Are people trivializing my performance? Yes, but at the same time I don’t blame them”, said Mbappe.
“In France they saw me growing up, they see me all the time, in PSG every weekend or in the national team. And I’ve scored a lot for years. So for people it becomes normal. I’ve never complained that my achievements were trivialized I’m young , and I had the chance to be an observer not too long ago before I became an actor.
“And even I downplayed what Messi did, what Cristiano Ronaldo did, what the great players did. We’re in a consumer society where ‘it’s good, but do it again’. And the fact that I’m right next to , in Paris… I think playing in PSG doesn’t help much because it’s a divisive team, a divisive club.
“So of course it attracts gossip, but it doesn’t bother me because I know what I’m doing and how I’m doing it.”
secret ‘deal’
PSG believe Kylian Mbappe has a “secret deal” with Real Madrid over a move to the club, according to reports from Sky Sports. The French forward is claimed to have received a letter from the Ligue 1 champions on Monday claiming he must sign a new deal or face being sold this summer.
The 24-year-old has just 12 months left on his contract with Les Parisiens, with reported interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Arsenal’s preference revealed
A report from Independent has stated that PSG are convinced Madrid will pay what they want – but president Florentino Perez does not want to pay PSG a penny for Mbappe.
The report adds that Arsenal would actually be Mbappe’s first preference should he ever go to the Premier League, both because he likes the development of Mikel Arteta’s side and would also relish the challenge of delivering the title to the club again. The 24-year-old is nevertheless seen as far beyond Arsenal’s budget, and it must be emphasized that there has been no contact.
A lot will depend on whether there is a serious move, either from another club or Mbappe himself, on whether Madrid continue to sign him this summer. The Spanish club recently announced that their spending spree had ended this summer with the surprise deal for Joselu, who is seen as a temporary replacement for Karim Benzema before going all in on Mbappe next summer.
PSG deadline
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has claimed that Mbappe must sign a deal soon or he will be made available on the transfer market this summer. Speaking at the unveiling of new head coach Luis Enrique, he said: “Our position is very clear, if Kylian Mbappe wants to stay – we want him to stay – he must sign a new contract.
“We can’t let the best player in the world right now go for free. It’s impossible.”
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Double medical, Declan Rice hint, Mbappe deadline, tree plan
Latest moves in the Premier League
Transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano has claimed that despite links to a move to the Premier League, there are currently no talks underway for Mbappe. He told Caught Offside: “Despite some big headlines, I honestly have no news of any English clubs in talks to sign Mbappe. If anything happens in the next months we will say so, but at the moment I have absolutely no information about this one. .”
Arsenal links
Arsenal are among the sides that have been linked with Mbappe as Football transfers reports that the Gunners are eyeing a move for the striker. The 24-year-old is claimed to be admired by the north London outfit, who look set to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League in the near future.
Chelsea interest
Chelsea have been put on red alert over a move for Kylian Mbappe this summer after the striker refused an option to extend his contract by another year. It is according to Timeswho report that the Blues are monitoring a potential move for the France international.
The move could see him reunited with former boss Mauricio Pochettino, who he played under at PSG and has since taken up the role of manager at Chelsea.
Which of the following prospects would you like to see in the first team or loaned out for experience? Swipe to have your say…