According to ESPN Kylian Mbappé’s relationship with his hometown club Paris Saint-Germain has officially fractured to the point of no return. Recent rumours and reports stating Mbappé has already asked for a transfer in the upcoming January window have flooded the soccer world.
Trouble arises once you start exploring destinations for the 23 year old French superstar. With Real Madrid having been a clear favourite to sign Mbappé in the summer window that has catapulted them to the forefront of the conversation around Kylian’s future. Though Madridista’s have taken to social media to express their disinterest in Mbappé following the sour ending to his seemingly complete transfer to Madrid in this summer’s transfer window. The window that saw Mbappé return to PSG with a record breaking salary. It was also rumoured the Frenchman has partial managerial and the ability to veto owners, managers and players.
Real have also made it clear they intend to make the most out of Karim Benzema’s contract before making a full fledged attempt at bringing in Manchester City’s internationally renowned poacher Erling Haaland in the summer transfer window of 2024.
The list of clubs that can afford a top class striker coming into their prime is surprisingly short, and two of those clubs seeming completely off the table, here’s where we’re left:
Real MadridBarcelona- Manchester United
- Bayern Munich
- Manchester City
- Liverpool
- Chelsea
For those wondering, Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta has expressed his direct disinterest in Mbappé dissolved from a combination of his price tag and off-season negotiation tactics.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich both seem to be reasonable landing spots. Both clubs can certainly afford Kylian and are looking for top quality attacking. Man United are preparing for the departure of beloved Cristiano Ronaldo, after his heroes return to Old Trafford played out all but heroically. Seeing him benched for Manchester native Marcus Rashford since the arrival of new manager Eric Ten Haag from Ajax.
Bayern on the other hand have just sold their superstar number 9 Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona for €50m. Since Lewy’s departure Bayern have struggled to find a striker who will play up the middle in their typical 3 attacker system. In recent matches the German juggernauts have experimented with a combination of formations. Generally using wingers or midfielders in the middle to overcompensate for their lack of a true poacher.
Any good hearted soccer fan who hasn’t recently boarded the bandwagon to the Etihad would absolutely despise seeing Kylian Mbappé line up on the blue side of Manchester next to Erling Haaland. With most Premier League pundits denouncing the Prem as a race for second place behind Pep Guardiola’s army of stars, the rest of the world can only hope they aren’t able to pull in yet another.
Though as the table stands, Arsenal have a clear advantage at the top of the table leaving room and reason for Sheikh Mansour and the City Football Group to improve their side in hopes of securing another trophy.
While it is unlikely Liverpool or Chelsea will be tempted to come up with the funds for Mbappé it would be an oversight not to include them on the list. Liverpool have been shocked by an appalling start compared to Klopp’s sides of recent years. Both Liverpool and Chelsea will likely be in the hunt for a winger in the near future, it is to be seen whether they will be willing to break the bank on someone of Mbappé’s caliber.
(Photo: Thibault Camus/AP)