Manchester United are reportedly plotting a transfer raid for PSG superstar and Real Madrid target Kylian Mbappe in the summer of 2022.
According to a report from ESPN, Manchester United are keen on signing a top-quality centre-forward in the summer of next year and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, who is also a top target for Real Madrid.
Mbappe has been on the radars of top clubs across Europe ever since he enjoyed a breakthrough with AS Monaco during the 2016/17 campaign, following which he made the switch to PSG and continued to scale great heights. A multiple league title winner and a FIFA World Cup winner at just the age of 22, the Frenchman has been on Real Madrid’s wishlist for years now.
Real Madrid see the PSG superstar as the heir apparent to compatriot Karim Benzema, who may have signed a new contract with the club till 2023, but will be turning 34 years old in a month. A move for Mbappe is being worked on for the ongoing transfer window itself. But it might not see the light of the day given Los Blancos financial problems and PSG’s stance on their star attacker.
This could open up the path for Manchester United to join the race for the 22-year-old in the summer next year, considering that he is in the final twelve months of his contract and would become a free agent if he does not pen a new contract.
Manchester United currently have Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial as their options upfront. While Greenwood showed great promise in the opening game against Leeds last week, he is still learning the ropes in the No. 9 role, whereas the inconsistent Martial could very well be on his way out next year in case he fails to deliver the goods this time out.
Cavani, meanwhile, will be 35 in February next year and will also be out of contract at the end of the season. So, it becomes imperative that Manchester United bring in a marquee centre-forward in 2022, with Mbappe emerging as an option for the 20-time English champions.
The report adds that the Red Devils are aware of Real Madrid’s long-standing interest in the 22-year-old and believe that the striker would choose a move to Spain over England if it comes to that. Nonetheless, they will make an attempt to land Mbappe, who has also been linked sporadically to arch-rivals Liverpool in the past.
Apart from Mbappe, Manchester United are also considering Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland, Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who continues to be linked with Manchester City and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, a striker that Real Madrid have also identified as Plan B if a move for the PSG ace fails.
