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Report: Kylian Mbappé favours Premier League move over Real Madrid transfer

According to ‘The Times’, the France captain could reject long-term admirers Madrid, who want to sign him on a pre-contract in January.

VALENTINE CHAPUISAFP

The Kylian Mbappé transfer saga may well have taken another twist. With his Paris Saint-Germain contract set to expire in June and the France captain already free to speak to other clubs, reports have suggested Real Madrid would be firming up their interest and making their long-term target a firm offer to ensure he ends up in Spain rather than in the Premier League. The belief in England, however, is somewhat different.

Mbappé “not impressed” with Madrid pre-contract offer

According to The Times, the 25-year-old isn’t impressed with Los Blancos’ insistence on him signing a pre-contract with them in January and is instead looking at other options, one of which would be joining a Premier League club on a free transfer in the summer window.

Mbappé's entourage have claimed “he doesn’t want Madrid to decide his future for him” right now and that he instead prefers to consider all the possibilities open to him, from both sporting and financial points of view. This could well open the door to one club the PSG star has already spoken fondly of: Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Paris Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates with the trophy after winning the Trophee Des Champions (French Super Cup) against Toulouse. TERESA SUAREZEFE

PSG stay still an option despite loyalty bonus agreement

The French forward’s future, in any case, is a long way from being “officially” settled. Before Wednesday’s Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup) victory over Toulouse, Mbappé had discussions with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, assuring the PSG president he hadn’t signed for another club or made a decision about where he would continue his career.

The former Monaco attacker has agreed to give up €80 million ($87.64 million) in loyalty bonuses to ensure PSG don’t take a huge financial hit in the summer. That doesn’t mean the French club have no hope of convincing him to sign a new contract, which remains up in the air. But if Mbappé leaving on a free transfer would no longer be so damaging for the club, who will save a significant amount of money elsewhere.

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