Transfer rumors surrounding Kylian Mbappe: Will the Frenchman go to Saudi Arabia or Real Madrid?

How did we arrive here?

Mbappe, who first came to PSG in 2017 on loan from Monaco before making the 180 million euro (£166 million) switch, has 212 goals in 260 games.

The Qatari-owned club hasn't been able to win the Champions League despite enjoying a ton of local success and assembling a strikeforce that features three of the biggest names in the world in Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.

Mbappe's contract expires in June 2024, although it was disclosed last month that he told the club he would only stay for this season and not extend.

PSG cut him out of their preseason trip of South Korea and Japan, and the fallout has grown sour.
How did we arrive here?

Mbappe, who first came to PSG in 2017 on loan from Monaco before making the 180 million euro (£166 million) switch, has 212 goals in 260 games.

The Qatari-owned club hasn't been able to win the Champions League despite enjoying a ton of local success and assembling a strikeforce that features three of the biggest names in the world in Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.

Mbappe's contract expires in June 2024, although it was disclosed last month that he told the club he would only stay for this season and not extend.

PSG cut him out of their preseason trip of South Korea and Japan, and the fallout has grown sour.

 Mbappe would likely surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's rumored £177 million annual salary at Al Nassr after his December transfer from Manchester United and surpass it if he were to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

According to reports

that on top of his wage, Mbappe could make up to 700 million euros (£602 million) a year through commercial deals and image rights.

For one year, Leroux said that "no player has ever been offered this salary in football, and I believe even in sporting history." "The pay he would receive would absolutely be historic and unbelievable.

It would cost roughly 59 million euros each month, or over 2 million euros per day.

Julien Laurens, a French football specialist, concurs and says Mbappe will not go to Saudi. 

"He doesn't want to go there" Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live. "When PSG say we have given permission to speak to Mbappe, he doesn't want to speak to them, Al-Hilal know that. It's not about money for him.

"He just wants to win every trophy possible. Right now, at 24 years old, that does not include the Saudi League."

If not Saudi then where?

Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the player and he was close to a move to Spain before signing his latest PSG deal last year. He says reports he wants to join Real this summer are "lies".

Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Barcelona have also expressed an interest.

PSG are open to the idea of Mbappe leaving on loan this summer to see out the final year of his contract elsewhere.

This would allow him to join Real for nothing in 12 months' time, keep playing this season and generate a loan fee for PSG.

"We know for example Barcelona yesterday picked up the phone to PSG, and said listen 'we can't afford any transfer fee for him, we can't even afford his wages',"said Laurens.

"Mbappe earns 72m euros gross a year, but no-one can pay that so he will have to take a pay cut and he's aware of it, but Barcelona said 'how about we swap players for Mbappe, who do you want in our squad?'

"Every big club in Europe is going to try to put something together to maybe, firstly, convince PSG to sell to them, and then convince Mbappe to come to them.

"That could be from United, to Liverpool, all the English clubs, maybe in Italy as well, but Real Madrid are the favourites because they have the money, that's where he wants to go, and they want him.

"As we've been saying before, they've been chasing him since he was 11 years old. Real are the big favourites but are they ready to pay the 150m euros that PSG would want, instead of waiting and getting him or nothing in 12 months' time?"

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly made £177 million a year at Al Nassr after his December transfer from Manchester United, and Mbappe would undoubtedly surpass that figure if he moved to Saudi Arabia.

Apparently, reports

Mbappe could earn up to 700 million euros (£602 million) a year in addition to his salary via endorsement deals and image rights.

Leroux claimed for a full year that "no player has ever been offered this salary in football, and I believe even in sporting history."He would undoubtedly receive a historic and incredible salary.

It would cost more than 2 million euros per day, or almost 59 million euros per month.

French football expert Julien Laurens agrees

When he decided, against all odds and to everyone's great astonishment, to stay in Paris for longer and not go to Real on a free, they had the money for him a year ago.

"Even after paying 103 million euros for [England midfielder] Jude Bellingham, there is money left over in the wage budget and a transfer fee is still possible. The £150 million payment would be made over the course of the contract.

Does Saudi Arabia fall under financial fair play?

The country's Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United, acquired Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli in June, four of the top clubs in the nation.

The 18 teams in the league have gone on a spending binge since Ronaldo's headline-grabbing acquisition, luring some of football's biggest stars from around Europe, including Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and Ruben Neves. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has also been linked with a move.

Financial Fair Play rules, which prevent teams from spending more than they make, must be followed by European football clubs.

The country's Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United, acquired Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli in June, four of the top clubs in the nation.

The 18 teams in the league have gone on a spending binge since Ronaldo's headline-grabbing acquisition, luring some of football's biggest stars from around Europe, including Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and Ruben Neves. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has also been linked with a move.

Financial Fair Play rules, which prevent teams from spending more than they make, must be followed by European football clubs.