18 February 2024 , 17:45
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Kylian Mbappe has been tipped to join Real Madrid when he leaves PSG in the summer, but his entourage have also met with figures at Manchester City.
On Tuesday, the Frenchman informed the Parisian club of his intention to leave at the end of the season, when his contract will expire. By that point, his people had already met with people from the Etihad Stadium as he begins to explore his options ahead of next term.
Los Blancos are very much seen as the favourites to land Mbappe's signature having held a long-term interest in the forward. But Spanish radio network Cadena SER has revealed that Madrid are unlikely to get a free run at the player, who will command huge wages.
Mbappe has been at PSG since 2017, when he joined from Monaco, and has scored with incredible regularity and claimed numerous domestic honours. The Champions League has eluded him and many pundits claim he needs to move away from Ligue 1 to further his legacy.
City are among the few teams who could also afford to make a move for the World Cup winner. They have ended PSG's hopes in the Champions League in the past, although Mbappe has found the net against Pep Guardiola's side.
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The lack of a transfer fee may alert several other clubs, who may be able to stomach his wages when they don't have to shell out millions to land the player. Liverpool have been touted as a possible option over the years but Jurgen Klopp, who won't be at Anfield next term, is unsure they could pull it off financially.
He said: “Obviously, I’m not involved in that, but I can tell you I’d be surprised if all the top clubs were. The top clubs I know, for most of them it will be tricky - wages, signing-on fee.”
The Frenchman has no shortage of options this summer (Getty Images)Arsenal too could throw their hat into the ring with Mikel Arteta admitting that the Gunners have to be among those looking to land the Frenchman. He said: “When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation, but … it looks to be in a different way.
“If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent and the best players, that is for sure. Everybody wants to play for Arsenal. The players we have held discussions with, they always have that smile on their face the moment you open the door and start to have that discussion."
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