Will PSG sell Kylian Mbappe in the January transfer window?
Robin Bairner
- 29 Nov 2023 11:15 GMT
- 4 min read
Kylian Mbappe may be happily back in the PSG team after a summer of drama, but the 24-year-old’s future is set to be called into question again prior to the January transfer window.
Mbappe is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning that he is destined to become a free agent at the end of June.
Real Madrid are still linked with a move for the player, who they have held an interest in for many years, yet there is a danger that PSG could decide to take advantage of the transfer period in January to cash in on their most valuable asset.
How likely is that scenario?
Mbappe is extremely unlikely to leave PSG in January. Last summer, he made it clear that he had no intention of leaving the club before his contract expires, despite receiving a huge offer from the Saudi Pro League. He did not even enter negotiations with the organisation from the Middle East.
There has been no indication that his stance has changed.
Reports indicate that Al-Hilal could launch a bid for Mbappe to replace the injured Neymar, but again this appears incredibly unlikely given that the France international was one of the reasons the Brazilian was forced out of PSG.
The Ligue 1 side might be willing to listen to Saudi interest if they returned with a bid in the region of €300 million again, but this is a moot point if Mbappe is not willing to engage in contract talks.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, are unlikely to make a transfer bid for the former Monaco man in January. Los Blancos have been adamant that they will only sign Mbappe if he joins on a free transfer – a possibility that only opens up next summer.
The Spanish club, though, could open contract talks with the player and agree a move for the midway point of 2024. Mbappe was reticent to do this in 2022, when a similar situation arose, as it seemed he wanted to keep his options open until the last minute, and this could be replicated once more.
Similarly, Liverpool and Arsenal are building dossiers to attract Mbappe to the Premier League, according to Duncan Castles. The Gunners already looked at a potential deal for the forward last summer. It is not yet clear how attractive this might be to the player.
Will Mbappe sign a new contract at PSG?
There has been no change in Mbappe’s stance with PSG. While relations appear to remain cordial, there is no indication that he is closer to signing a new deal with the Ligue 1 side, even if their transfer business during the summer broadly pleased him.
In a similar situation in the summer of 2022, he kept his cards close to his chest until the last moment, when he agreed a new deal with PSG.
The situation remains that he is heading towards becoming a free agent in 2024, which favours Real Madrid and those other clubs that want to sign him.
