Salah, Nkunku and five players who could replace Mbappe at PSG

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 6 May 2022 12:04 BST
• 5 min read

Kylian Mbappe's future at Paris Saint-Germain is arguably the biggest talking point in the world of football as the summer transfer window edges ever closer.

The Frenchman's contract in the French capital expires at the end of this season and he is currently free to talk to other clubs about a transfer.

The player himself has repeatedly admitted that he will decide where his future lies once the campaign draws to a close, but it's a known fact that he must choose between an extended stay at PSG, or a new challenge at Real Madrid.

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Carlo Ancelotti's side were in for Mbappe last year but had a €200 million bid rejected by the French giants. However, they will have the chance to sign him for free this summer if they can convince him to join.

Although a recent report from Le Parisien has stated that Mbappe has agreed to a new deal at PSG, an official answer from the player himself seems no closer, and his mother has claimed the news as "completely false."

So, it's very feasible to imagine Mbappe playing alongside international team-mate Karim Benzema in a white shirt next season.

If that's the case then PSG will have an almighty task on their hands in their bid to replace their talisman. The Parisians efforts to win the Champions League have failed time and time again, and by losing a star like Mbappe it won't get any easier.

While money won't be a problem, missing out on a transfer fee for Mbappe will be a killer blow to the club.

However, they will have vast resources at their disposal in order to find a suitable replacement for the 2018 World Cup winner. Although he began his PSG career as a right winger and then switched to the left flank, Mbappe has almost solely featured through the middle this season. He drifts out towards the left, but his work is completed as a striker. As such, a players such as Ousmane Dembele, who has been linked with PSG, wouldn't be a suitable like-for-like replacement, But, which players could feasibly replace Mbappe?

Mohamed Salah

While Mohamed Salah isn't a central striker by trade, the Egyptian is fairly similar to Mbappe in regards to where they play. Mbappe often finds himself in the inside left channel, while Salah is the same but on the right.

The Liverpool man operates best in a front three, which PSG play, and his signing could push Lionel Messi back into a false nine role, with Salah and Neymar exploiting the space further upfield.

With over 150 goals for Liverpool, Salah is a proven goalscorer and is one of very few players across Europe who can match Mbappe's output. He may be more system-reliant than Mbappe, but Salah is just as efficient in front of goal.

Christopher Nkunku

When Christopher Nkunku left PSG he was a creative midfielder. But, he's now a central striker. Converted into a number nine this season, Nkunku has stepped up to drag Leipzig back into the Bundesliga top four after a poor start to the season.

The Frenchman is the main man at Leipzig and it's a role that clearly suits him. With 51 goal contributions in just 48 games this season, Nkunku is a candidate for the Ballon d'Or and that's not a bad application for the role of Mbappe's replacement.

He knows the club and he's one of Europe's most in-form players - Nkunku would be excellent back in Paris.

Erling Haaland

Although it seems as though Manchester City are the clear frontrunners to activate Erling Haaland's €75m release clause and sign him from Borussia Dortmund this summer, PSG could rival Pep Guardiola's team.

The Norwegian has been compared to Mbappe since he broke onto the scene and while his injury issues are a problem, Haaland could run riot in Ligue 1.

A proven goalscorer, Haaland would ease the loss of Mbappe completely but PSG will need to act fast to see off competition from Man City.

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku seems destined to leave Chelsea after just one season following a multitude of problems. His injury issues in November started things, but his interview with Sky Italia was what kicked off the major flaws in his return to Stamford Bridge.

He's been dropped for Kai Havertz through the middle in recent months and is still yet to score a Premier League goal in 2022. However, he hasn't lost his footballing ability since leaving Inter and a fresh start could reinvigorate him.

PSG could offer him the promise of a new adventure and Lukaku would most likely thrive in Ligue 1. A born goalscorer he could go some way to replicate what Mbappe does on a weekly basis.

Cristiano Ronaldo

It may seem unlikely but Cristiano Ronaldo could yet leave Manchester United this summer. Although the arrival of Erik ten Hag is an exciting devlopment at Old Trafford, the Dutch head coach may not take a liking to Ronaldo and with no Champions League football looking likely to be on offer, Ronaldo could seek a move away.

Now in the final few years of his career, he will want to play in and win the Champions League again. That may not happen at Man Utd, but he'd have the chance at PSG.

Only Salah has scored more Premier League goals than him this season, and he clearly still has the talent necessary to play at the highest level. As a bonus it would allow him to finally play alongside his arch-rival Lionel Messi.