As the summer transfer window prepares to officially open later this week, the rumour merry-go-round is set to go into overload as players from all over the continent are linked with big-money moves.
After days of seeing Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Neymar Jr dominate the gossip columns, it is now the turn of Romelu Lukaku and Kylian Mbappe to steal the limelight.
On Monday, Mbappe sent the footballing world into shock when it was revealed, via the media, that the 2018 World Cup winner would not be exercising the one-year extension clause in his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. It is claimed Mbappe wrote a letter to club officials detailing his desire to leave next summer, with the Telegraph claiming PSG will now look to cash in on the player they signed for £166m from AS Monaco in 2017 to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 12 months time.
It has been claimed that the Ligue champions want at least £160m for the forward. Realistically, there are only a handful of clubs in the European game - chiefly Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid - who could even entertain the idea of signing Mbappe due to the astronomical finances expected to involved in any potential deal.
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Meanwhile, Chelsea could be set to wave goodbye to the second most expensive signing in the club's history as Lukaku, according to Goal, travelled to Paris on Monday to discuss a potential move to Al Nassr with officials of the Saudi Pro League outfit.
The Belgium international failed to perform during his second spell as a Chelsea player after signing from Inter Milan for £97.5m in the summer of 2021 and spent last season on loan at the Nerazzurri. The forward has three years remaining on his current deal at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Arsenal appear to be edging closer toward the signing of Rice. On Monday evening, the Guardian claimed the Gunners are close to agreeing a deal in the region of £100m for the West Ham United captain. The apparent breakthrough between both clubs comes after the Hammers' chairman, David Sullivan, confirmed in an interview with talkSPORT last week that the 24-year-old would be leaving the club this summer.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, it seems inevitable that club captain Harry Maguire will depart Manchester United this summer with Newcastle United reportedly ready to take the England international on loan.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City's treble-winning captain, Ilkay Gundogan, has been offered a one-year contract extension. While Spanish giants Barcelona are said to have tabled a three-year deal for the midfielder.
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