Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Transfers, Kylian Mbappe, Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, La Liga
Ryan Sidle
Topics: Transfers, Kylian Mbappe, Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, La Liga
Real Madrid are hoping to add Kylian Mbappe to their squad in the January transfer window and have made a move for the PSG star ahead of his contract expiring.
Mbappe's deal at the Parc des Princes expires in June, when he can leave for nothing, and clubs from outside of Ligue 1 can already sign a pre-contract agreement with the forward.
Last summer Real were hoping to get a jump on their competitors for his signature, and made several bids for the forward up to an incredible £172 million but they were all turned down.
Real are favourites to sign him this summer but once again they're unwilling to wait, according to Italian football agent Giovanni Branchini, who claims Los Blancos have made another bid.
"It depends on PSG now," Branchini told Gazzetta dello Sport, "as Real Madrid have gone back in for Mbappe by offering 50 million euros [£41.75 million] a few days ago.
"I don't know how this will play out. It seems to me that this move from Florentino Perez is worth watching closely.
"It would be a shame for a player like Mbappe to move for free in the summer. I don't know what they think about this in Paris."
PSG have remained determined to keep hold of the former Monaco player throughout the speculation and are still hopeful they can persuade him to stay.
That looks increasingly unlikely with time passing, however the chances of them letting the 23-year-old any sooner seem just as unlikely.
The Parisens have been desperate to win the Champions League since their takeover in 2011 and their best chance of doing that is surely with Mbappe in the team.
The fact the Ligue 1 leaders are due to meet Real in the last 16 of the competition next month only adds another twist in the tale, and it was originally claimed they would hold off on any Mbappe contract announcement until after the games.
Carlo Ancelotti's team have moved for the World Cup winner early because they fear that Liverpool, or other Premier League sides, could yet join the race for Mbappe.
English sides would likely be able to offer more money for the forward and could also offer him a better chance of winning in Europe, if the past few seasons are anything to go by.
After the summer move for their forward, PSG were reportedly interested in bringing in Erling Haaland as a replacement and, should that be the case again, it could once again bring them in competition with Real.
Los Blancos are amongst the favourites to sign the Norwegian, although their rivals Barcelona are said to have already agreed a deal with the player's agent Mino Raiola.