Real Madrid make second Kylian Mbappe bid, with PSG negotiations ongoing

Real Madrid make second Kylian Mbappe bid, with PSG negotiations ongoing
By Adam Crafton and David Ornstein
Aug 26, 2021

Real Madrid have made a second offer worth up to €180 million (£154.4 million) for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and the two clubs are now engaged in negotiations over a transfer, although they have not reached an agreement.

PSG sporting director Leonardo confirmed on Wednesday that Mbappe wants to leave the club. The 22-year-old’s future hangs in the balance with less than a week left until deadline day.

PSG refused to negotiate with Real Madrid after the opening offer of €160 million and the Spanish club were made aware through media reports that the bid would be rejected.

However, the second bid has now brought PSG to the table to at least discuss the transfer with Real Madrid, although they are still seeking to push the bid higher than Madrid’s second offer.

The club’s President Nasser Al-Khelaifi attended the Champions League draw on Thursday and discussed his options internally on Thursday evening.

There have been suggestions in Spain that Madrid President Florentino Perez has contacted the Qatar head of state, the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to secure his approval for the transfer but PSG sources often insist that Al-Khelaifi is granted the freedom to take the big decisions at PSG.

Inside PSG, Al-Khelaifi has been aware this week of views within the club that he should cash in on Mbappe and take the money, particularly due to the internal perception that the player’s confidence and happiness in France has been damaged by his performances at Euro 2020.

Sources close to Real Madrid believe a transfer could be agreed in the next day or two but it is more likely to go into the start of next week before it reaches a conclusion.

Mbappe’s contract runs out at the end of the 2021-22 campaign which means he could leave the French side on a free transfer next year. The World Cup winner is yet to engage with any new offers to stay.

Mbappe joined PSG at the age of 18 on a season-long loan from AS Monaco in August 2017. He then signed a permanent four-year deal with the club in the summer of 2018.

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Why are Real Madrid coming back with a second offer?

Real Madrid CEO Jose Angel Sanchez and Perez, who has become somewhat infatuated with Mbappe, remain determined to sign the World Cup winner this summer and are not giving up at the first time of asking.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti is also understood to be awaiting his arrival.

Is there any chance PSG will accept this time round?

PSG are at least in discussions with Real Madrid but believe they might be able to push the Spanish club into a world record fee beyond the €220 million they spent on Neymar.

On Wednesday Leonardo told RMC: “We cannot change our plans in the final week of the window. If he is set on leaving, we will not hold him back, but it will be our terms.

“We don’t foresee speaking again with Real. This is the market and for us, we are clear: we want to keep him and extend his deal. But we aren’t going to let him leave for a fee smaller than what we paid given we still owe a sum of money to Monaco.”

PSG still owe €36 million to Monaco for the final payment of Mbappe's transfer so any fee Real Madrid offer must take that into consideration.

Mbappe’s current contract at PSG has only a year remaining and more than a year of negotiations have failed to produce an extension. PSG wanted to tie Mbappe down for the next five years, with an additional option of a further year, but the striker has refused to sign terms.

However, PSG still hope to keep the Frenchman and the offer of a new deal worth €30 million net per year is still on the table if he can be convinced to stay in Paris.

With only ten months remaining on Mbappe's deal, PSG face a quandary. Do they cash in handsomely on their asset now or risk losing him on a free transfer next summer?

What happened previously?

PSG rejected Real Madrid’s initial offer of €160 million (£137 million) from two days ago.

On Tuesday night, senior PSG sources insisted that the club remain steadfast in their refusal to sell Mbappe this summer and that Madrid’s offer fell short of their valuation.

Mbappe is a prized asset in the French capital and although he only has a year left on his contract —which means he could leave on a free transfer next summer — PSG would expect a far greater sum to even consider selling one of their most talented players.

(Photo: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

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