BREAKTHROUGH in Mbappe transfer saga CLOSE after crucial PSG meeting
Tom Weber
- Updated: 21 Aug 2023 13:37 BST
- 3 min read
Kylian Mbappe is slowly but surely inching closer to signing a new Paris Saint-Germain deal after a meeting with the club on Sunday, according to a report.
The Frenchman kicked off one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer when it was revealed that he would not trigger his contract extension, meaning that he would be a free agent next summer, giving him the ability to finally get his dream move to Real Madrid.
PSG subsequently banished him from the playing squad and transfer-listed him, though the 24-year-old has always stated that he wanted to stay for one more season. Thus, he rejected Al-Hilal's record offer. He didn't feature in PSG's opening Ligue 1 fixture against Lorient, but things changed drastically after the match.
The player and his camp held 'productive' talks with the club hierarchy, making it clear that he was now open to potentially signing a new deal after all, and was ultimately rehabilitated, coming on as a substitute - and scoring - in PSG's 1-1 draw with Toulouse. On Sunday (August 20), another 'positive' meeting took place.
PSG bemused at Real Madrid
That is at least according to Spanish outlet AS. It is claimed that PSG went into the talks optimistically, hoping that the meeting would further dampen the hostility that had broken out between the two camps in June.
It seems this was achieved, though the report makes sure to stress that there is still some way to go before Mbappe puts pen to paper on a new contract. Indeed, there is still no guarantee that he will do so at all despite the positive talks.
REVEALED: The curious reason Real Madrid hesitating over Mbappe transfer
Apparently, during the meeting, PSG officials expressed their bemusement and confusion about Real Madrid's inaction during this whole saga. Mbappe is still officially on the market and PSG would negotiate should an offer of €250 million come in, but Los Blancos have not given any indication that they would want to capitalise on this.
In fact, given the rapprochement between PSG and Mbappe in recent weeks, the Parisians believe that the Spaniards are taking a gamble by not making a move given that there now exists a distinct possibility that the 24-year-old will extend his deal.
