Paris Saint-Germain is set to report Real Madrid to FIFA over their potentially illegal tapping up of Kylian Mbappe. The club has been discussing with PSG, who are determined to sell the striker this month. PSG is now in advanced talks to sign Dembele and hopes to pay €50 million (£42.8 million) – the clause in his contract that expires on August 1. They missed out on Rasmus Hojlund after Manchester United agreed with a deal worth up to £72 million with Atalanta for the Danish striker. They have given up on their attempts to sign Bernardo Silva, with Manchester City determined to keep the Portuguese international.
PSG are convinced Mbappe has an agreement with Real to sign for them for free next summer, earning him a €160 million (£138 million) signing-on fee. This would be illegal under Fifa's rules and constitute approaching a player without the permission of the club he currently represents. However, Mbappe refused even to meet Saudi club Al-Hilal in Paris last week, despite their €300 million (£259 million) offer being accepted, which has convinced PSG even more than a deal already in place with Madrid.
The most likely scenario is a cash offer being made by Madrid before the end of the current transfer window. It could go down to deadline day, as even if Real has an agreement with Mbappe to sign for free next year, it cannot be legally binding, and they run the risk of being gazumped by another club. If Real pay a fee for Mbappe, it will raise even more questions about how they could afford the deal given the financial pressure they and Barcelona are under.
Chelsea have already undergone a considerable upheaval of their squad as they try to strengthen but also juggle with Financial Fair Play demands. They have formed part of the tentative initial talks with PSG, but there is scepticism that they can construct an attractive enough deal or will want to, and whether Mbappe would sign for them.
Despite Mbappe appearing to be in a strong position – he has one year left on his current deal at PSG and has reiterated his desire to go for free next summer – he runs the risk of a crucial campaign being written off if he does not play. PSG's campaign begins on August 12, at home to Lorient, with the club's fans unlikely to hold back their hostility towards the player.
The best outcome for all parties appears to be for Mbappe to stay one more year at PSG and extend his contract to 2025, but with the agreement that he will be sold next summer.
