Kylian Mbappe has signalled an intention to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer when his deal ends. Is there any chance Manchester United strike?
The French football superstar’s current deal at Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer. The Athletic report Kylian Mbappe has informed the club he will leave. He is strongly expected to sign with Real Madrid, however, they may not be the only option.
Mbappe will have lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, while there may be tentative interest from the Premier League.
What we are interested in is whether Manchester United stand a chance of signing the 2018 World Cup winner.
Kylian Mbappe and Manchester United, the story so far
Manchester United swooped for Monaco forward Anthony Martial in 2015. A year later, assistant boss at the time Ryan Giggs wanted the club to sign Kylian Mbappe too. They didn’t.
Giggs explained: “I watched Gabriel Jesus play three years ago. I watched Mbappé for a year. I was watching them with the scout and it was a no-brainer.
“It was just like, ‘Get them.’ It would have been £5 million or something — get them, loan them back — and that’s where the recruitment could have been better.”
The Times reported back in 2021 that a future move to Old Trafford could not be ruled out for Mbappe.
The report wrote: “According to a close friend, Mbappé’s interest in English football also extends to Manchester United.”
Erik ten Hag was asked about a move for Mbappe and Jude Bellingham last year, and joked: “Do you have pennies for me?”
Well, here come new investors Ineos with a pot of cash, could a move for the world’s best forward be in any way possible?
Kylian Mbappe connection to Jean-Claude Blanc
A move for Kylian Mbappe would mirror the ‘best in class’ approach off the pitch which Sir Jim Ratcliffe is going for.
With Real Madrid the clear favourites, United face an uphill task to land Mbappe, but, there may be an ace in the pack thanks to Ineos chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc.
Blanc formerly worked as chief executive at PSG when Mbappe signed for the club from Monaco.
He explained, via L’Equipe, how he was able to convince the striker to sign and snub Real Madrid: “He is very sincere when he talks about this patriotic side, and that winning in France or Paris has a different flavor than winning in another club. I have seen him grow, transform, become a leader over the last five years.”
L’Equipe reported last January how as part of an organised tribute to Blanc, the outgoing chief executive was presented with three signed shirts from PSG players, one of which belonged to Mbappe.
There is a connection there, with the Frenchman and his representatives, that gives Manchester United a tiny chance of opening a conversation with the striker, if there is any chance of him entertaining a move to Old Trafford.
It is still the longest of long shots, but what a statement it would be from Ineos to sign the superstar, if they decided to go all out to bring him to Manchester.
Signing superstars may be more emblematic of the previous approach under Ed Woodward, yet, Mbappe is not over the hill, he is only 25, and if he were to join United, it would because he wanted to, not because of salary. He could earn more elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.
One Mbappe exit repercussion
Regardless of Kylian Mbappe’s next destination, his exit from Paris Saint-Germain could create one very real dilemma for Manchester United.
The French side are widely reported to be admirers of 2022/23 top scorer Marcus Rashford.
The Mirror reported earlier this month PSG remain keen on Rashford, and with a Kylian Mbappe sized hole to fill in their attack, the Manchester United man could be a natural fit for the French side.
Manchester United would prefer to hold onto the academy graduate, however, if a huge offer arrives, the club have to consider it, for a player whose form has dropped off, netting only five goals this season.
This would provide an opportunity, to reinvest, if Manchester United chose to take a mega-offer which comes for Rashford. One way or another, Kylian Mbappe’s move from PSG will have repercussions around Europe.
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