Barcelona have reportedly entered the chase for Kylian Mbappe, who is the priority target for Real Madrid ahead of next summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Kylian Mbappe is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a Bosman move in next summer’s transfer window. The 22-year-old is at odds with Paris Saint-Germain over signing a new contract, with Real Madrid also keen on signing him.
Kylian Mbappe has taken little time to establish himself as one of the best players in the world. Having first broken onto the scenes at AS Monaco half a decade ago, the Frenchman has exploded as a powerhouse of an attacking player since joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017, having become a pivotal figure for club and country.
To date, Mbappe has made 179 appearances for PSG while garnering a tally of 136 goals and 65 assists in the process. However, the Ligue 1 heavyweights are in a precarious position over the future of the 22-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract at Parc des Princes, which has alerted a number of top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Real Madrid had been hot on the trails of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner this past summer, having attempted to sign him till the final days of the window. However, PSG did not budge from their stance of keeping hold of their prized possession in the hopes of agreeing a renewal with him sometime over the course of the season.
However, with Mbappe firm in his own stance of running down his deal, Real Madrid have resumed their pursuit of the French international, who could well be the long-term replacement of Cristiano Ronaldo that they have been seeking for years. Now, though, Los Blancos are facing stiff competition from bitter rivals Barcelona.
The interest from Barcelona makes a world of sense, considering their attacking unit has become rather hollow following the departures of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann. As a result, the Catalan giants have been linked with a number of attacking players including Lorenzo Insigne, Antony and Ferran Torres.
However, Mbappe is the kind of player who could be the true replacement for Messi to a great extent, with the fact that he will likely become a free agent bringing them into contention. Having said that, it has been claimed that the 22-year-old prefers a move to Real Madrid, and it remains to be seen if Barcelona can usurp their rivals to secure his signature.
