Mbappé: PSG preparing another splash for Monaco forward
The Ligue 1 side are hoping to steal a march on Real Madrid for the France international but have to clear out players to avoid FFP concerns.
Paris Saint-Germain are not content with breaking the world transfer record to add Neymar to their squad in exchange for 222 million euros and are preparing another colossal bid to lure Kylian Mbappé to the Parc des Princes from Ligue 1 champions Monaco.
Mbappé is the most sought-after player in world football after his astonishing breakthrough season in the principality and Monaco are holding out for a fee of 180 million euros for the France international. Real Madrid are considered to be the front runners for the 18-year-old, who has never hidden his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, which provides the Bernabéu with an edge.
PSG and Real Madrid to lock horns for Mbappé
However, the problem lies in the timeframe. Madrid would prefer to sign Mbappé and then have him remain in Monaco on loan for another season while PSG would are willing to incorporate him directly into the first team for 2017-18 to form a strike partnership with Neymar and Edinson Cavani.
PSG face a significant hurdle in the shape of financial fair play, with the Neymar deal to cost the Parisian club 120 million euros per year across the transfer fee and the player’s wages. That means PSG will have to bring in a significant amount of money from player sales before they can embark on a bid to sign Mbappé.
Krychowiak, Jesé and Aurier up for sale
Three players whose days are numbered at the Parc des Princes are Grzegorz Krychowiak, Jesé Rodríguez and Serge Aurier, all of whom the PSG board are keen to shift on permanent deals. Atlético are reportedly keen on Krychowiak while Jesé has been sent back to Paris after a six-month loan at Las Palmas. The former Real Madrid forward has failed to make an impact in Ligue 1 and is unlikely to dislodge any of the club’s current forwards from their positions in the pecking order. France international Aurier is a target for Manchester United but that deal will be shelved if the UK maintains a ban on the player entering the country due to a conviction for assault, which Aurier is challenging in the courts.
Di María the most profitable route
PSG can make a fast buck by selling the Argentina international, who the club values at around 70 million euros. Some reports have suggested Di María could be targeted by Barcelona as a replacement for Neymar due to his friendship with Leo Messi, but the Camp Nou club are more interested in Dortmund’s France international Ousmane Dembélé and Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho.
Draxler could be sacrificed
Germany international Julian Draxler, who joined PSG in January from Wolfsburg for 40 million euros, is likely to be the most affected by the arrival of Neymar with the two players operating in the same area of the pitch. Although the Paris crowd have taken to Draxler he is likely to be sacrificed for Neymar’s accommodation and his agent was spotted in Barcelona at the weekend, with several German media outlets reporting that Barça are set to snap up the 23-year-old.
