Kylian Mbappe to leave PSG: Who is interested and where will he fit best?

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The future of Kylian Mbappe is once again up in the air, with the superstar sending a letter to the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy stating he was not going to be extending his contract beyond expiration in 2024.

This is with the intention to see out next season and leave on free transfer in 12 months time. PSG are understood to be outraged at the decision, but at this point it is unsurprising Mbappe is looking to move on from Paris.

The World Cup golden-boot winner scored 41 goals and provided 10 assists in just 43 appearances for PSG, and with numbers that place him among Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, a below-market value deal is set to entice many suitors. Mbappe will undoubtedly be on the radars of the biggest clubs on the planet, with managers lining up to sell their project to a generational talent, but which club would get the most out of winger?

Real Madrid

There is now a Karim Benzema-sized hole in Real Madrid’s frontline after the Ballon d’Or holder’s surprise move to Saudi Pro League Champions Al Ittihad. Madrid’s interest in Mbappe is not new, with president Fiorentino Perez’s move for Mbappe last year nearly coming to fruition after nearly five years in the pipeline, but failed after his contract extension sealed his future in Paris.

There is another problem with the potential signing of Kylian Mbappe. Vinicius Junior has been their best player this season, providing 46 goal contributions in 55 appearances, with his UEFA Champions League performances a joy to watch. Vinicius plays on the left wing, Mbappe’s preferred position, and Real Madrid have just given the Brazilian the number seven jersey, Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary number. His future is arguably the safest in Spain, so where will Marid deploy Mbappe?

Should he move to Madrid, he will most likely play down the centre as a striker. He has played this role before and succeeded, but has shown frustration with being regularly used as a number nine, feeling he has to sacrifice too much of his creative potential.  A central role would still see success, but it would be interesting to see the long-term impacts on Vinicius Junior’s game which has linked successfully with Benzema as false number nine.

There is other business at the forefront of Real Madrid’s attention as well, the 130-million-pound deal for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham. This huge fee may have tied their transfer business up for this window, with the intended signing of Mbappe on a free transfer next year. If the Frenchman is to move this window, someone will have to be sold to free room in the squad for such a huge investment. Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni have been rumoured to be available if push comes to shove, but they are two prized assets not worth losing.

Mbappe has the DNA of a Galactico and has been a Madrid priority for years, but the move has been priced out by PSG. The biggest obstacle to Kylian Mbappe’s next destination is the relationship between PSG and Madrid, with Paris not wishing to do business with Perez, a key component that could potentially halt the realisation of the superstar’s move.

Man City

Manchester City are the treble winners, reaching a pinnacle few teams have experienced, and adding the likes of Kylian Mbappe could seal their standing as the best team in the world. This is already set to be a busy window for City, with multiple stars’ futures in doubt, including Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, meaning there will be a need to bolster the squad with not just offensive reinforcements, but a new big name.

City will have a similar problem to Real Madrid with their deployment of Mbappe. The emergence of Jack Grealish this season will make it difficult for both players, with one or the other most likely moving to a central berth. Norwegian colossus Erling Haaland would also have to be taken into account. A possible solution would be Mbappe playing on the left wing while Grealish slots in behind the front-line, similar to the roles of Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan.

Pep Guardiola’s side is already looking to spend 90 million pounds on Red Bull Leipzig’s 20-year-old Croatian centre back Josko Gvardiol, making Mbappe’s price-tag less affordable despite their treble success. Funds would need to be raised through player sales, weakening their overall squad depth, but who wouldn’t want to see Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland leading the line together in the Premier League and Champions League? Every fan on Earth (besides the blue ones in Manchester).

Bayern Munich

This past season Bayern Munich secured their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title with a final-day victory placing them ahead of Borussia Dortmund. Bayern still consider the past campaign a failure and are set for huge adjustments, both within the playing squad and behind the scenes.

It is has been made very clear that Bayern are in the market for an attacking player, ideally a striker to lead the line and a true replacement for Robert Lewandowski. As mentioned previously, Mbappe may not be a true number 9, but he has been deployed as a striker for France and PSG, performing at a world-class level.

Bayern do not usually spend huge fees on players, barring a few exceptions like Lucas Hernadez, Matthijs De Light and Leroy Sane. The Bayern hierarchy are keen to invest around 85 million pounds on Tuchel’s number one request, Declan Rice, not leaving much room for another marquee signing.

Mbappe would excel at Bayern regardless, and may even form a relationship with Sadio mane who could be deployed centrally. Mane struggled in his first season in Germany, but was immense in this position in his final few months at Liverpool, helping bring the best out of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Leroy Sane, Kylian Mbappe, Sadio Mane, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiala could be a very exciting offensive project for the Bavarians.

Liverpool

The most far-fetched of any of the prospects would be the Frenchman joining Jurgen Klopp’s side, but due to the club’s previous interest and an opportunity to get a generational talent for below their market value, lets look at the impossible anyway.

Mbappe would be coming into a newly designed frontline that has lost both Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. If Mbappe was to arrive in Merseyside, he would slot into their front three perfectly. His incredible pace in behind, exceptional finishing ability and being arguably the best one-on-one dribbler in world football, would take a lot of pressure off of Mohamed Salah while not sacrificing his output.

The new 3-2-2-3 formation implemented with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield and Cody Gakpo dropping deep, would provide a perfect source for Mbappe’s runs in behind, creating space toward goal. He would also fit well into Jurgen Klopp’s previously favoured 4-3-3 system, taking the role previously occupied by Sadio Mane and currently by Luiz Diaz.

Considering Liverpool’s dire need for a midfield rebuild, Mbappe will not be going to Liverpool. There are too many gaps in the squad that is limited by operating within a tight budget to justify such a luxury signing without restructuring the squad. Priorities lie with two more midfielders, a left-footed centre back and a fullback.

The prospect of Mbappe turning down Champions League football for Europa League Thursday nights is more likely than Liverpool paying a fee north of 100-million pounds. Mbappe’s arrival would suit Liverpool’s style of play, but the greed of adding someone of Mbappe’s calibre to a front five of Salah, Nunez, Gakpo, Diaz and Jota ahead of a rebuild, would put even Manchester City’s bench to shame.

Manchester United

Under the Glazers ownership regime, an investment that would bring Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford in addition to what Erik Ten-Hag needs seems unlikely. If the new ownership transition can be agreed and completed before the end of the window, then we must work within the reality that the Glazers will be funding this window.

Ten-Hag is definitely in the market for a striker, but what they are after provides different qualities to a team than Mbappe. Their intentions are to buy an out-and-out number nine, with Harry Kane reportedly their top target, and Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund an alternative. Mbappe provides goals and creativity but he would not be able to hold up play and build-up an attacking phase the same way as Kane or Hojlund.

Similarly to Vinicius Junior and Jack Grealish, there is Marcus Rashford operating on the left wing. Mbappe would have to either play centrally to accommodate Rashford, or United’s top scorer would have to revert back to the number nine role where he has been inconsistent and received seasons’ worth of criticism under Mourinho, Solskjaer and Rangnick.

It would be a shame for Rashford to have to redevelop his game once more after he was the driving force behind United’s success this season. This window, the Red Devils need a central defender, a genuine number nine, a midfielder that has a bigger engine, and a goalkeeper to add competition for an ageing David De Gea.

Photo: Twitter @vini_ball

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Dylan Johnson