GM, Free Agents. Buckle up. We’re about to hit some transfer turbulence!

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Mbappe has dropped a bomb on this summer’s transfer market.

Diffusing a nuclear bomb today:

• Mbappe tells PSG he’s not extending; PSG will sell this summer 💥💣️ 

  • Timeline of events

  • Rumored price of the deal

  • Realistic landing spots for him

MBAPPE SET TO LEAVE PSG— SAGA REIGNITES!💥💣️

Before yesterday, it seemed like Mbappe had everything that he wanted in Paris.

Neymar & Messi were being phased out of the club. He was the centerpiece of the new phase of their project. PSG have been linked to high-profile transfers that could complement his style of play.

But then last night…

Timeline of events 📆 

Summer 2021

• Real Madrid bid €180mm for Mbappe. It was rejected by PSG, who had hoped he would sign a contract extension.

• Mbappe’s contract at PSG was running out in the summer of 2022.

Summer 2022

• Mbappe signed an eye-watering extension with PSG that saw him extend his contract until the summer of 2025.

  • The catch was that it was a 2 year contract with the OPTION for Mbappe to extend it until 2025.

Yesterday

• Around 10PM Paris time, L'Équipe broke that Mbappe would not be triggering the option to extend his contract until the summer of 2025.

• This means in 1 year’s time, PSG could lose him on a free transfer.

• PSG reportedly are not willing to accept this, so will sell him this summer.

Rumored price of the deal 💸 

Transfer fee

It has been rumored that the price of Mbappe’s transfer this summer would cost somewhere around €150mm. Considering other transfers like Jude Bellingham for €110-120mm, that would be pretty fair.

Wages

Mbappe’s wages would likely be unbelievably high. This alone locks out 99% of clubs in the world from signing him.

Where could Mbappe realistically land this summer? ✈️ 

When we think of a mega transfer (>€100mm, with crazy high wages) there are only a few teams that are able to pull that off— Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, & Manchester City. Without UCL though, Chelsea are out of the running.

• Before their financial ruins Barcelona & Juventus were included in the above list was included in this list, but that’s not realistic anymore.

• Bayern, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham, & Atletico Madrid have great purchasing power but aren’t near that aforemetioned top bracket.

Here are the realistic options for Mbappe this summer ⤵️ 

Real Madrid ⚪️ 

Florentino Perez famously bid €180mm for Mbappe in the summer of 2021, even though he could have waited 4 months to sign a pre-contract agreement with Mbappe to go to Real Madrid for free in June 2022.

It is no secret that Florentino Perez has kept his eye on Mbappe, even after he re-signed with PSG last summer. It’s been reported that Real Madrid & Perez have been keeping money on the side in case an opportunity for Mbappe arises.

Fit

With Mbappe playing mostly as a LW/LF, he would need to convert full-time to striker. Considering there is a Benzema-sized hole in the position, that could be perfect.

• Mbappe has stated that his ambition is to convert full-time to striker/#9.

• The frontline would be Vinicius(LW)-Mbappe(ST)-Rodrygo(RW)

Carlo Ancelotti is known for his ability to balance talent around the field in order to get the most out of them. Florentino Perez would have nothing to worry about in that respect.

Manchester United 🔴 

Right now, United need to sell to buy. However, if their Qatari takeover goes through, this could become a more realistic prospect for the Red Devils.

Although, would Mbappe want to go from one Qatari-owned club to another? 🤔 

Fit

Manchester United are in desperate need for a #9. Can Mbappe be their man?

• Mbappe & Rashford play very similar positions— LW/LF who cuts in to occupy the striker’s spaces.

• One of the two would have to convert to a full-time #9, which is something that both have said they want to do.

  • Could this cause friction?

• It has been reported that Erik Ten Hag wants more of a “big, technical target man” for his #9.

  • Mbappe is certainly not that profile.

Manchester City ❄️ 

After winning their treble, Manchester City will look to dip back into the market to upgrade their squad.

On top of that, they are rumored to potentially be losing Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, & Riyad Mahrez this summer.

• That would leave a big hole in their attack & midfield.

• City certainly have money to spend to replace them.

Fit

Grealish already plays in the LW role for City, and Haaland & Alvarez are their #9s.

• Mbappe could be a top-class option at striker or at LW.

  • Could this cause friction in an otherwise-harmonious squad, since they already have stars in those positions?

  • Maybe Pep wants to develop Grealish in the more conservative Gundogan role, which would open up the LW for Mbappe.

• Frankly, their bigger hole is at RW, which Mbappe is not.

• Mbappe is also a big “star” personality, which Pep Guardiola has been keen to avoid in the past.

  • Haaland is the exception to that rule, but he was only a 21 year-old when he was brought in. Mbappe is 25 this year.

Gaffer’s Bet 🃏 

Mbappe transfers to Real Madrid for ~€150mm this summer. Real Madrid is his dream club, and they can pay him & PSG what they want.

• His fit doesn’t make a ton of sense at United considering Marcus Rashford (or what ETH wants at #9), nor at City unless Grealish is moved to midfield (and Mbappe would have to want to play LW).

That’s all for today. What a bombshell. Hopefully we get some updates soon on where Mbappe could be moving. He could be a big domino this summer as well.

Cheers,

—The Gaffer