Mbappe is not making the same mistake Messi did
Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he intends to leave the club next summer to build on his career elsewhere.
The Frenchman joined his hometown club from Monaco in 2017, at first on loan and then for a fee of €165m a year later, but now wants to move on from the French champions, with Real Madrid and Liverpool the two most closely linked clubs to the player.
Mbappé, 22, has been vocal in his praise of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side, sparking relentless rumours linking the Frenchman with a move to Anfield. The Reds have only spent £11m this summer on back up left-back Kostas Tsimikas, following the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tightening the pursestrings this summer, which has understandably concerned fans, could well be a decision made with the possibility of signing Mbappé next summer in mind.
Liverpool's front three all turn 29 this season and, as good as they are, the club does have to start thinking about long term replacements.
Real Madrid have been long term admirers of Mbappe, with Zinedine Zidane name-checking him, as well as Paul Pogba, as the player he wants to bring in to spearhead a new project at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid have financial troubles of their own though, with ongoing stadium works and big names like Gareth Bale still on the wage bill, it won't be an easy transfer to pull off.
Mbappé will still have two years left on his contract by the time next summer comes around too, when Neymar will be 29. Whether PSG would be willing to sell their most promising player just as their record signing reaches the end of his peak is hard to predict.
The club do not want to lose the 21-year-old, who has scored 77 goals in 102 league and Champions League games since his arrival, and have made numerous new offers to Mbappé on significantly better financial terms.
But it appears Mbappé will not be swayed by a sweeter offer, demonstrated by his formal communication to PSG - nice and early, take note Leo - that he wants to move on. The question now is, can anyone afford him?
