Al Hilal, one of four Saudi Pro League sides financed by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have lodged a world-record bid for wantaway Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, 90min understands.
Mbappe was left out of PSG’s pre-season squad after making it clear that he does intend to trigger the extension clause in his current contract, which runs until the summer of 2024.
The Ligue 1 champions are desperate to avoid a situation where Mbappe can leave the club on a free transfer, and have made available him this summer.
Contact has been made with a number of clubs across the globe, but it’s shock interest from Saudi Arabia that could rock the footballing world.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that PIF-backed Al Hilal have formalised an enormous offer worth €300m (£259m) that would make Mbappe the most expensive player ever – a fee that would shatter the record set by PSG’s acquisition of Neymar for €222m (£198m) in 2017.
PSG are prepared to accept the offer but the final decision will ultimately rest with Mbappe, who 90min understands is not keen on a move to the Middle East at this point in his career.
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Indeed, sources close to the Saudi side acknowledge that their proposal is unlikely to be approved by Mbappe who, as 90min revealed earlier this week, has his heart solely set on a move to Real Madrid in the future.
Real Madrid’s long-term interest in Mbappe remains and club president Florentino Perez is confident of having the Frenchman in his squad by 2024, when Mbappe will become a free agent if he does not sign an extension.
A summer transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu has not been ruled out but Real Madrid are reluctant to pay a significant fee for a player who can be secured on a free transfer in just six months.
PSG, while also leaving the door open to a contract extension for Mbappe, are looking to drum up interest in the 24-year-old from elsewhere in Europe in the hope of seeing clubs match their asking price of at least €200m (£172m).
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