In 2018 Paris Saint-Germain officially signed Kylian Mbappe on a permanent transfer having loaned the teenage sensation from Monaco in 2017 first. By the time he signed the deal that would keep him in the French capital until 2024 he became the second most expensive player ever.
For £154 milllion, PSG signed a player that would go on to become a double World Cup golden boot winner, Champions League finalist, club record scorer and two-time World Cup finalist. Before Mbappe has even turned 25 he has achieved feats that would make him a legend of the game for years to come.
His name is always shrouded in controversy, though. Across the six years he has now been in the French capital there have been four managers, three of them are well-known faces to Premier League managers. The fact that Mbappe alone hasn't been able to propel any of them to European glory is a point of frustration.
Not only has his work off the ball resulted in the frustration of new Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino during his career, but the addition of Mbappe may have lost PSG their chance to form a more cohesive unit. With Neymar and Lionel Messi in the last two years they have had a star-studded attack but not always a connected one.
Their stars have stacked up remarkable numbers but have not gone on to have the level of success in Europe that many would have predicted for players with their quality. Tactical shortcomings when against the best sides has been a consistent issue for Mbappe and even France aren't always able to make up for his work rate. As Chelsea prepare themselves for Pochettino, they can make a PSG dream become reality at Stamford Bridge.
Just the year after Mbappe signed permanently at Parc des Princes, talented youngster Christopher Nkunku left the club. With Angel Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler, Pablo Sarabia, Edinson Cavani and even Jese Rodriquez in front of him there was no pathway.
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Since making the move for just £11 million to RB Leipzig he has gone on to be one of Europe's most impressive players. Unlike Draxler, Sarabia, Jese, Icardi or the ageing Cavani, he has developed, grown and continued to impress. Year on year he has recorded better output - though scoring four less goals this season he played 900 minutes less - and is now set to try out the Premier League.
His attacking metric are less expansive than Mbappe, this is not a comparison between the two, but PSG's decision to chase the big-name dream meant missing out on a player they would surely now love to have back. Messi signed aged 33 and is now leaving. Neymar is 31, injury prone and up for sale, too.
Even if Mbappe stays as a 24-year-old he is set to be the only major attacking force at the club and even then he is now a real prospect of leaving after rejecting the option to extend his contract beyond 2024. Not even the wealthy PSG want to lose him for free.
When it comes to the options ahead of him, Real Madrid are one but have Harry Kane to think about and sanctioning a big-money move after Jude Bellingham might be troublesome. Manchester United are in the same boat and have ownership worries to sort out first.
Manchester City can afford the deal but have Erling Haaland. Whether there are any other sides that can genuinely afford Mbappe is a real question. Liverpool have long been linked with him but have a midfield to revamp. Chelsea, however, have the financial muscle, ambitious owners and desire for a new striker.
They could also offer the chance to link-up with Nkunku and form one of the most threatening frontlines in the league. For Pochettino it's a dream he was never granted at PSG having already seen Nkunku leave before he joined and now it's a potential future partnership not out of the equation at his new club.
Although Nkunku is yet to be officially announced as a Chelsea player football.london understands that a deal has been completed and that he will be joining up with the club.
He is currently away with France and Mbappe on international duty but Fabrizio Romano has revealed that he will be named as a new Blue after the EURO 2024 qualifier with Greece on June 19.
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