Kylian Mbappe of PSG (Image: Getty Images)
In Summary:
- Kylian Mbappe, captain of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and the French national team, has announced his departure from PSG in the summer when his contract expires, prompting the club to strategize for his replacement.
- PSG, amidst Mbappe’s anticipated exit to Real Madrid, plans to sign three top players: a forward, a midfielder, and a center back, as they prepare for Mbappe’s departure after his 7-year tenure with the club.
Paris Saint Germain and France national team forward Kylian Mbappe announced that he would be leaving in the summer when his contract expires, and the French outfit has embarked on a plan to replace their talisman.
Mbappe, who captains the Les Bleus has been involved in a back-and-forth tussle with his current employers since 2023, with his desire to join Spanish giants Real Madrid an open secret.
It took the intervention of French president, Emmanuel Macron for Mbappe to stay at PSG beyond the summer of 2023 with sources suggesting that he received a major monetary bumper to shelve his interests to join the Galacticos.
However, all these measures proved to be only temporary as Mbappe announced that he would be leaving PSG in the summer of 2024 with his likely destination being the Spanish capital, Real Madrid.
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According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, as of Thursday, 15th September 2024, Real Madrid had already sent a contract proposal to the forward with details emerging that the salary offered was currently less than what PSG had offered in a renewed contract proposal.
The salary is also less than what Real Madrid offered in 2022 in a deal that Mbappe turned down to pen a new two year contract at PSG.
Accordingly, as PSG and Mbappe make plans on the official announcement of the forwards departure, the Ligue 1 side is preparing for life after him and assessing the market for options.
PSG’s plans are clear as they want to sign at least three top players in different departments according to Fabrizio Romano.
The French side will sign a top player in the forward line, one midfielder, and one center back.
Bernardo Silva was on their radar in the summer of 2023 but the move fell through as the Portuguese midfielder extended his stay at Manchester City by signing a contract extension. Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimares is also a midfielder appreciated by the club and he was on their January’s transfer targets.
Lille’s Leny Yoro has also caught the interest of PSG alongside Bayern Munich’s defender, Matthijs de Ligt.
No names have been mentioned on the potential forward the club is likely to sign, as Mbappe joins Lionel Messi and Neymar on PSG’s exit list.
Mbappe will be leaving PSG after 7 years having joined the French giants in the summer of 2017 on what was initially a loan deal before the move was made permanent in 2018. He joined at a fee of €180 million at 18 years which made him the most expensive teenage signing.