Kylian Mbappé has informed Paris Saint-Germain that the incomparable thrill of besting Brest, trouncing Troyes and angering Angers no longer appeals to him – nor the fun of predicting how Champions League embarrassment will come. As such, a number of clubs are jockeying to secure the services of a player the Mill would like to believe is known as “Jack” by his teammates.
Real Madrid, already spending in the region of £88.5m on Jude Bellingham, are keen to lash even more money if they possibly can, because what is money for if not lashing. And they also need a centre-forward to replace Karim Benzema, who’s finally fulfilling his fantasy of playing in the Saudi Pro League.
Should Mbappé move to the Bernabéu, Harry Kane would be more likely to remain at Spurs, but PSG also want him and could anyone begrudge their style captain a move to the style capital? However, Chelsea would also like to buy him, and who would not be seduced by the opportunity to be patronised by a football maven of Todd Boehly’s renown?
In the event that Sheikh Jassim buys Manchester United, a wholesome prospect if ever there was one, his reported links to the owners of PSG could yet make a move by Mbappé to Old Trafford possible. This would delight the children of the internet for whom the world offers no joy whatsoever save their bestest-ever team featuring multitudes of shiny goods whose names are then attached to the suffix “SZN” and who respond with the Mbappé crying meme every time an adult challenges the integrity of proceedings.
United are also looking to shift players and it seems Aston Villa are in the market for a winger with little pace, even less strength and entirely absent intensity. Whether or not Jadon Sancho fancies the unique buzz and unrivalled passport stamps of the Conference League remains to be seen, but in the meantime the reported £60m price tag is also thought to be a stumbling block.
Otherwise, Villa – and Wolves – are also keen on Manu Koné. The 22-year-old Mönchengladbach midfielder has also been linked with Liverpool, but his rumoured penchant for solitary perambulation might put the kibosh on things.
Talking of Liverpool, Steven Gerrard looks set to take his next step en route to the big chair at Anfield by accepting the prestigious post at Al-Ettifaq. All he’ll need to do then is hope the rival managers who are better than him find jobs elsewhere, and he’ll be in prime position to repeat his Rangers success.
Also a target for the investment fund of the Saudi royal family is Romelu Lukaku. Their Al-Hilal iteration have offered him a deal worth up to £20m a season, which actually makes some kind of sense given the absence of decent defenders and big competitions against whom and in which he usually struggles.
Elsewhere, Tottenham are close to agreeing personal terms with David Raya, who they’d like to replace Hugo Lloris. Brentford, though, are asking £40m for their man, so chances are Daniel Levy spends the remainder of the summer posturing before spending double as much on someone half as good in the final seconds of the transfer window.
And finally, Jordi Alba is talking to Inter Miami about joining them from Barcelona. He is not thought to have been dissuaded by the sacking of Phil Neville.
