Kylian Mbappe Transfer News: Will PSG Striker Move To Saudi Arabia Or Real Madrid?

Kylian Mbappe pictured playing for Paris St-Germain

The future of Kylian Mbappe has become this summer’s headline transfer saga.

With the France captain having refused to sign a contract extension at Paris St-Germain, the French champions are attempting to cash in on their record goalscorer to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.

Step forward Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, who shocked the footballing world on Monday with an eye-watering world record bid of £259m for the World Cup winner.

But what happens now? Could he actually swap the Champions League for the Saudi Pro League? And where is the striker likely to end up?

How have we got here?

Mbappe, who joined PSG in 2017, initially on loan from Monaco before a 180m euro (£166m) move, has scored 212 goals in 260 games.

Despite plenty of domestic success and the creation of a strikeforce including three of the world’s biggest stars in Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, the Qatari-owned club have failed to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Champions League.

Mbappe has a contract until June 2024, but last month it was revealed he had told the club he will stay this season but will not extend his deal.

The fallout has become bitter, with PSG leaving him out of their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea.

In their first game of the trip, PSG drew 0-0 with another Saudi team, Al-Nassr, in Osaka, Japan.

“Kylian Mbappe is a great player and he’s not here,” PSG defender Danilo Pereira said afterwards.

“That’s a decision of the club, I can’t comment.”

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made clear his determination to take a tough stance and there have been suggestions Mbappe will not be selected for an entire year if he refuses to break the current deadlock.

The French club have now given Al-Hilal, one of four clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, permission to speak to Mbappe.

PSG are expecting European clubs to make rival bids too.