Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe finds himself in the spotlight as the final six months of his contract unfold, with Liverpool reportedly poised to make a move amid contract disputes and a willingness on Mbappe’s part to forgo a substantial loyalty bonus.
Mbappe, a prime target for Liverpool, has already taken a bold step by agreeing to waive a £69 million loyalty bonus in a bid to facilitate a more amicable departure from PSG.
The 25-year-old’s current contract, inked in 2022, was a result of PSG warding off strong interest from Real Madrid. However, the relationship soured at the start of this season when Mbappe declined to extend his contract by an additional year, leading to his exclusion from the pre-season tour of Asia.
Kylian Mbappe – The Transfer Saga continues
Despite the discord, Mbappe received an 80 million euro loyalty bonus, a gesture of goodwill after he remained with the club beyond the summer transfer window closure and was reintegrated into new manager Luis Enrique’s squad. The French captain, however, waived the initial instalment of the bonus and is reportedly willing to forgo the entire amount if he leaves PSG this summer.
With the option to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club now open, Liverpool are poised to capitalize on Mbappe’s uncertain future. While Real Madrid have long been considered the frontrunner, recent reports suggest that Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are now leading the race, having engaged in prior discussions over a potential transfer.
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Mbappe, in an interview with the Telegraph in 2022, disclosed,
“I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum. It’s a good club, and we met them five years ago. It’s a big club.”
Despite Liverpool’s strong interest, Mbappe hasn’t ruled out staying in Paris. After PSG’s victory over Toulouse in the French Super Cup, he stated,
“I haven’t made up my mind yet. But in any case, with the agreement I made with the chairman this summer, it doesn’t matter what I decide.”
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi commended Mbappe, emphasizing his importance both on and off the field, praising him as an “incredible player and fantastic person,” highlighting the unity within the PSG team. As the saga unfolds, Mbappe’s decision will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for the football landscape.