Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 7y

Paris Saint-Germain may move for Kylian Mbappe next year - source

PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain are yet to make a concrete offer for Kylian Mbappe, and may delay plans to sign him until next summer, despite both parties being interested in a move, a source close to the club has told ESPN FC.

As reported recently, Monaco striker Mbappe is keen to return to his hometown of Paris and play alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani in what would form one of Europe's most feared attacks.

However, the source said that despite interest from both sides, a deal is nowhere closer to completion because PSG have not yet tabled an offer.

Mbappe was an unused substitute for Monaco's win away at Dijon and then left out altogether for the victory at Metz because of the ongoing speculation and the impact it is having on him.

The source indicated that PSG have declared their interest in Mbappe to Monaco, who have responded by declaring that they have no intention to sell the player to their domestic rivals.

Despite Monaco's lack of interest in dealing with them, PSG remain confident that Mbappe's desire to join them and not sign a new contract at Stade Louis II will ultimately lead ASM vice-president Vadim Vasilyev to accept the youngster's desire to leave.

However, until a firm offer has been made, nothing else can happen. The source detailed that this has not happened yet for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the transfer would be complex financially in a summer window that has already seen PSG land Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record €222 million fee.

It would make the task facing the club over the next few months, as far as financial fair play is concerned, more difficult and it would complicate their quest to sign a defensive midfielder -- a priority position -- with Monaco's Fabinho high on sporting director Antero Henrique's list of targets.

Another reason no concrete bid has been made is because not all influential members of the PSG hierarchy are convinced that spending so much money so soon after Neymar's arrival, despite Mbappe's talent, would be a wise move.

According to the source, the driving force behind PSG's interest in Mbappe is chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi and although many fellow club leaders see the Frenchman's current and potential value, some favour a move for him next summer -- assuming he stays with Monaco this season -- in order to focus on strengthening other areas.

One other concern is that signing Mbappe now, while his stock is still sky high after a phenomenal second half of last campaign, could complicate Neymar's so far seamless start to life in Paris.

The Brazil international moved to Parc des Princes to be the centre of attention and although his star power is undoubtedly greater than that of Mbappe, putting both in the same team in the same summer would dilute the former Barcelona star's influence..

PSG want Mbappe and Leonardo Jardim's No. 10 wants PSG but it could prove too complex to acquire him, a defensive midfielder and a new fourth-choice central defender before the end of the current transfer window.

Unless Monaco show themselves to be open to doing business with PSG, which might enable an initial loan move or a temporary return to Stade Louis II for the term with the transfer already out of the way, it is far from certain that a deal will be done this summer.

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