Manchester City ‘rule out summer approach for Kylian Mbappe’ amid Contract Extension Talks
Manchester City are reputedly not prepared to enter the race for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe this summer, as the Citizens have other signings in mind.
In the 2022-23 season, Pep Guardiola’s squad won the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, completing a historic treble and ending the club’s lengthy wait for European glory.
Erling Haaland arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer, and his 36 Premier League goals propelled Manchester City to its third consecutive domestic title.
The Citizens have the monumental task of endeavoring to replicate such a successful season in 2023-24, but the English and European champions have no plans to sign PSG’s star player to aid them in this endeavor.
The Athletic reports that Manchester City will not compete for Mbappe’s services this summer, despite their admiration for the 2018 World Cup champion.
The report claims that Manchester City are the only Premier League club who could afford to sign the 24-year-old, but the club has no current plans to bring him to England.
After a number of crucial first-team players left the club following the conclusion of their treble-winning 2022-23 season, it is believed that Manchester City’s recruitment efforts have shifted elsewhere.
Ilkay Gundogan was the first prominent player to depart Pep Guardiola’s squad this summer, as the German joined La Liga champions Barcelona after his contract in Manchester expired.
Al-Ahli secured the services of City winger Riyad Mahrez for a fee of approximately £30 million, thereby benefiting the burgeoning Saudi Professional League.
PSG reportedly accepted a £257 million bid from Al-Hilal for Mbappe, but the Frenchman is averse to a move to the Middle East and has refused to negotiate personal terms with the Saudi club.
Mbappe is rumored to be willing to remain on Les Parisiens’ bench for the entirety of the 2023-24 season in order to run down his contract in the French capital. It has been widely reported that the attacker has his sights set on a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2020.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are not in a position to buy Mbappe out of his contract in France after spending £86 million on Jude Bellingham earlier this summer. Los Blancos attempted to acquire Mbappe when he was a rising star at Monaco, and the Spanish giants remain extremely interested.
PSG have excluded the 24-year-old forward from their preseason squad as they seek to offload him before the transfer window closes. This comes after the forward indicated he would not be signing a new contract at Parc des Princes.
Man City will be aiming for a record-setting fourth consecutive Premier League title next season, and they will resume their preseason preparations on Sunday against Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City ‘rule out summer approach for Kylian Mbappe’ amid Contract Extension Talks
