PSG and Kylian Mbappé are both unlikely to change their minds. Having informed the club in writing that he won’t be extending, Mbappé is intent on staying put for the final year of his contract, with a move to Real Madrid reportedly already agreed for next offseason. The club, meanwhile, unusually proactive in their handling of the situation – sporting director Luis Campos’ common sense again proving useful, will not allow the player to leave for free, meaning they must sell this summer. However, with both sale and extension unlikely, there is another possibility.
As it stands, unless Real Madrid swoop a year early – don’t rule out a low-ball offer at the end of the window – all parties are reportedly willing to see Mbappé spend a season in exile. Although a likely outcome given stubbornness on all sides, it benefits no one. Mbappé’s fitness and sharpness could decline badly, making for a slow Madrid start, while PSG would he stuck with a player on huge wages offering no sporting value. No game time also means reduced exposure for the Frenchman’s sponsors – a force not to be underrated.
There is, however, a third, and increasingly likely, option. All three parties would be served by a season’s loan. Mbappé stays sharp, the move would generate significant attention, and PSG would remove at least some of the 24-year-old’s €72m yearly salary from their wage bill as well as avoiding the distraction of Mbappé hanging around the club’s new training ground all year.
PSG, no doubt, would be against strengthening a direct rival, however, which could lead to an esoteric list of loan options. Madrid’s Clasico rivals Barcelona would be ruled out for that reason and Manchester United, wanting to sign the player outright, would likely see a loan move as beneath them. This, plus the Champions League rivalry factor, would make Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich unlikely too.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, who had a €300m offer accepted by PSG this week, could pay all of Mbappé’s salary, as (in theory) could some MLS clubs, but convincing Mbappé that either move is worth taking at this stage of his career would be tricky.
Mbappé has previously spoken of his love for AC Milan, one of the more likely options, but their UCL status plus an inability (or unwillingness) to pay a meaningful proportion of the player’s €6m monthly wage adds significant obstacles. This would be the case for any leading Italian club, and Borussia Dortmund, although Inter Milan are best placed financially and have already enquired. Juventus’ off-field situation, however, doesn’t help their case despite their size and lack of Champions League football. A return to Monaco remains the only realistic Ligue 1 loan destination – especially with PSG able to ensure Mbappé couldn’t play against them – but affording an agreeable chunk of the player’s wages would be tough for a Europe-less Monaco looking to rebuild.
Newcastle and Chelsea are, for now, the only feasible Premier League options. Both could afford a sizeable chunk of the player’s wages, while a season of English football could be appealing to Mbappé, who is likely to spend most (or all) of his prime in La Liga. Although, both would worry about destabilizing fledgling projects, Chelsea is most plausible given owner Todd Boehly’s transfer largesse, the glamour on offer and a less-than-taxing schedule with no European football to worry about – assuming Mbappé would be open to a season without UCL football.
Although Tottenham fans hoping for a repeat of Jürgen Klinsmann’s single (full) season in London (20 goals over 41 games in 94/95) will likely be disappointed after Mbappé reportedly dismissed their chances, the romance of that sport spell, and others such as Henrik Larsson’s 13-game sojourn at Old Trafford in 2007 or Thierry Henry’s Arsenal cameo, could yet be mirrored. Fear of injury aside, having secured his Madrid move, Mbappé, always affable with the press, would likely enjoy throwing himself into a unique situation.
With neither side willing to cede ground, he may have little choice.
Adam White | GFFN
