The Hard Tackle provides a verdict on Kylian Mbappe’s best option this summer, with Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly keen on the PSG star.
A bombshell transfer update from Duncan Castles, as relayed by TeamTalk, suggests that Kylian Mbappe is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain.
Castles, during the Transfer Window Podcast, claims that the Frenchman will inform PSG of his desire to move elsewhere in the summer, with Premier League emerging as the favoured destination for the player.
With both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid likely to be ruled out due to their respective financial problems, it appears Manchester United and Liverpool have emerged as two clubs that could fight tooth and nail to secure the services of Mbappe this summer.
Although Castles’ report claims the player does prefer a move to Anfield, here, at The Hard Tackle, we will take a closer look at where the Frenchman could fit in better, should he decide to join the Premier League this summer.
Manchester United
Following a steady improvement under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United have burst into prominence this season, mainly thanks to the inspiring figure of Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese international’s ingenuity in the final third, combined with the progress of Marcus Rashford, as well as the smart acquisition of Edinson Cavani last summer, fired the Red Devils into title contention earlier this year.
Although that seems to be slipping away, for now, it has become apparent that Manchester United have endless potential and strengthening their team in the right way this summer could be key if they are to compete with the heavyweights of European football and thereby, restore the club’s lost glory in the near future.
In Kylian Mbappe, Manchester United should have the ideal protagonist that can breed new life into the Solskjaer era. His dynamism, pace and productivity could, in fact, make the Red Devils one of the most feared attacking teams in Europe, especially when deployed alongside the likes of Rashford and Fernandes.
From a tactical perspective, Mbappe would be a definite upgrade over Martial. The PSG star has more versatility and is simply far too consistent, in regards to his productivity. In addition, he has the experience of playing alongside Cavani, having played together in Paris for a few years.
The presence of quality attackers such as Rashford and Mbappe should also make things easier for Fernandes, while Solskjaer can utilise the Frenchman in a number nine role as well as the flanks – ultimately giving him more tactical options at his disposal.
However, what makes Mbappe such an appealing target for Manchester United is that the PSG star is not only a quality player but also an excellent marketing tool. As the powers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo starts to wither, Mbappe, along with Erling Haaland are widely tipped as two of football’s next biggest superstars.
The 22-year-old could thus further skyrocket Manchester United’s popularity among footballing fans. And in Rashford and Fernandes, the Premier League giants would have an ideal supporting cast while the club’s rich history should also entice the Frenchman himself.
Liverpool
Liverpool may not be as flashy as Manchester United when it comes to marketing. However, they are no slouches and are indeed the top competitors of their league rivals. In addition, they have an excellent history, having recently been crowned the Premier League champions, a year after they had won the Champions League trophy.
Apart from the allure of history and trophies, what makes Anfield such an appealing destination for Mbappe is the sporting perspective the club will be able to offer, especially with Jurgen Klopp now ready to enter the market after a disappointing campaign.
One of the things high on the German’s list is a new number nine as Roberto Firmino continues to struggle with his productivity. As such, the Brazilian desperately needs competition, which is where Mbappe could come into the fray.
The former AS Monaco prodigy should fit in ideally alongside the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, thus forming one of the most lethal offensive trifectas in Europe. It should also be noted that the Frenchman likes to play in a more dynamic style of play – something Klopp could definitely provide.
In addition to being an upgrade over Firmino, Mbappe can be utilised as an alternative or perhaps even a long-term replacement for either Salah or Mane. In fact, it remains likely that Liverpool will have to offload one of their star players if they are to sign the PSG superstar.
The 22-year-old, though, may still operate in the number nine slot, given the fact that Liverpool do already have a viable replacement in Diogo Jota should either of the leave. The Reds do boast a world-class creative unit as well, led by former Bayern Munich man Thiago Alcantara.
They do have some problems in regards to depth, especially with Gini Wijnaldum’s contract expiring at the end of the season while James Milner is nearing the final phase of his career.
But with proper reinforcements this summer, Liverpool should have no problems in announcing themselves as one of the top contenders to secure the Premier League title next season. And with Mbappe on board, they might just be the team to beat.
Verdict
It is difficult to pick an ideal destination between the two as both clubs have improved enormously in recent years and are capable of providing a good sporting perspective for Mbappe. However, Liverpool does get the edge due to their recent successes in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
Although the Reds have stumbled quite a bit in the ongoing campaign, the return of key players like Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota should significantly improve their form. From an overall sense, Jurgen Klopp’s men are much more balanced than their arch-rivals and are better equipped to offer the winning perspective for the PSG man next season.
