Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will not extend his contract beyond June 2024 - putting Real Madrid on red alert.
Mbappe, 24, handed a letter to PSG's hierarchy on Monday to inform them of his decision. Mirror Football understands this letter was handed to French newspaper L'Equipe, who broke the story, BEFORE it was given to PSG - leaving the Ligue 1 champions furious.
PSG remain hopeful Mbappe will commit his long-term future to the club, despite his letter. Yet they will not allow the France international to leave the Parc des Princes on a free transfer in a year's time, which means he could complete a move this summer.
That will be music to the ears of Real president Florentino Perez, who would love to bring one of the World Cup winner to the Bernabeu. Real are looking for a replacement for Karim Benzema after he quit the Spanish capital to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.
Real attempted to sign Mbappe during the summer of 2021, with PSG rejecting multiple lucrative offers. The prolific forward could've left PSG on a free transfer in June 2022 but was persuaded to sign a new contract, just weeks before his old deal was up.
Mbappe agreed a three-year extension, but the final season of that deal is optional. As such, he can leave the French capital on a free transfer in June 2024. That will concern PSG, who don't want to lose one of the game's most valuable players for nothing.
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Mbappe has until July 31 this year to confirm whether he wants to trigger the final season of his deal. There was no requirement for the player to submit a letter to PSG chiefs.
PSG will now try to negotiate a new deal with Mbappe before that July 31 deadline. If he doesn't put pen to paper, there is a good chance he will complete a transfer during the final month of the summer window. The news may also interest Premier League clubs.
Real president Perez was recently asked by a supporter in the street whether Mbappe could join them. He replied: "Yes, but not this year."
PSG's hierarchy are determined to build a team capable of winning the Champions League. They have been labelled as a team of individuals in the past but want to move away from this, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos leaving the club.
PSG are expected to part company with Christophe Galtier and announce a new manager shortly, as well as make further improvements to the club's training ground. They have won eight Ligue 1 titles in the last 10 years following a Qatar-backed takeover but have reached just one Champions League final, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Mbappe has won five Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, two French League Cups and two French Super Cups since joining PSG, initially on loan, from Monaco six years ago. He has also scored 212 goals to become the club's record scorer.
