Kylian Mbappe future may depend on Paris Saint-Germain transfer decisions amid Victor Osimhen links - Inside Europe
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Published 24/05/2023 at 10:19 GMT
It looks like Kylian Mbappe could be back on the agenda during the summer transfer window, after a report stated that the France skipper has rejected the option of extending his Paris Saint-Germain contract to 2025. With Neymar and Lionel Messi potentially leaving PSG this summer, we caught up with our colleagues from Eurosport France to talk more about Mbappe's future.
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Kylian Mbappe is reported to have rejected the option of extending his Paris Saint-Germain contract to 2025 - but what does that mean for his future at the club?
The France captain's time with PSG has been full of speculation about his intentions, with Real Madrid regularly being in the conversation with regard to his possible next destination.
And Mbappe's latest decision has thrown up a whole new raft of questions.
We decided to delve into them with our colleague Martin Mosnier from Eurosport France...
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It was L'Equipe who reported the news on Wednesday of Mbappe's decision not to trigger his contract extension to 2025.
This means that the forward would therefore be a free agent next summer, on June 30, 2024.
Mbappe had claimed as recently as March that he was "very happy" at PSG.
The 24-year-old said: "For me it's a privilege to play here. I'm from Paris and being at PSG is special. I arrived when I was young and I've grown and matured a lot, on and off the pitch, since then."
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Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes in Paris, on May 13, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
And when questioned if his future was linked to winning the Champions League - something that continues to prove elusive for PSG, Mbappe added: "I don't think so. If I linked my future to the Champions League, and I don't want to disrespect the club, I would have gone very far!
"I am here and I am very happy, and for the moment I'm not thinking about anything other than making PSG happy."
But Mbappe's latest move suggests something has changed. Mosnier reckons the element of "control" is key in this process.
"This decision allows him [Mbappe] to put PSG under pressure, especially during the transfer window," Mosnier says.
"Mbappe is an ambitious player and wants to have the best team around him or he will leave. It is also a way to control his future because in a year's time he will do what he wants.
"He knows that if he activates the clause, Paris will never sell him next summer. So it's a way to be free in 2024."
Mosnier thinks there is little chance of Mbappe forcing through a move this summer, and discussed which players might be on PSG's list to build around the France skipper.
"Mbappe will not leave Paris this summer because he is under contract," Mosnier says. "PSG will never sell him. Especially as the club has already decided to part with Lionel Messi and is trying to sell Neymar.
"The plan is to build a new team around Mbappe.
"Mbappe definitely wants a top striker to help him. Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen are the two names that come up most often.
"The midfield will also be rebuilt - Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram are possibilities.
"It is certain that if PSG are not ambitious during this window, they will risk losing Mbappe in the summer of 2024."
PSG are on the brink of winning the Ligue 1 title after Mbappe's double secured victory over Auxerre on Sunday.
PSG are six points ahead of second-placed Lens - who also have an inferior goal difference - with two games left to play.
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