Real Madrid 'to agree Kylian Mbappe free transfer' in January after failed PSG talks

Posted Wednesday, September 01, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Kylian Mbappe will not be joining Real Madrid before this evening's 11pm transfer deadline.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe will sign a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid in January, according to reports. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital ahead of this evening's transfer deadline, but is now set to remain in Paris until the expiry of his current deal at the end of the season.

Real Madrid, who are long-term admirers of Mbappe, have been trying to sign him in recent days and reportedly saw an initial bid worth £137million turned down by PSG last week.

The 13-time European champions were prepared to fight tooth and nail to secure the forward's signature, but the prospect of an immediate a move looks to be dead in the water as the all-important deadline creeps ever closer.

The La Liga heavyweights have withdrawn a last-gasp £189m offer for Mbappe, who is now set to join them on a free transfer ahead of next season, according to Sky Sports News.

It is claimed that Real Madrid were ready to shell out a club-record fee to land the Frenchman, who scored 42 goals from 47 matches in all competitions throughout the previous campaign.

However, PSG did not respond to the proposal, with Real Madrid eventually walking away from the table due to concerns over the length of time remaining to push through a move.

Real Madrid 'to agree Kylian Mbappe free transfer' in January after failed PSG talks
Mbappe will not join Real Madrid before this evening's deadline (Image: PA)

Mbappe's current deal will expire at the end of the season and it is understood that he will sign a pre-contract agreement at the Bernabeu in January ahead of next season.

As a result of PSG's reluctance to sell, they will now miss out on a monumental transfer fee and lose their prized asset for nothing at the end of the campaign.

Sporting director Leonardo revealed earlier this month that Mbappe was keen join Real Madrid, but warned that his club would retain the final say in any move.

"Mbappe would like to leave, this seems clear to me," Leonardo told RMC.

"If Real Madrid makes an offer, this seems clear to me. Me, I give a position, which I think is clear for everyone.

"We cannot change our plans in the final week of the window. If he is set on leaving, we will not hold him back, but it will be our terms."

Leonardo went on to accuse Real Madrid of acting illegally in their pursuit of Mbappe while insisting that he would like the player to sign a new long-term contract with PSG.

"Our position has always been to keep Kylian, to extend his contract, and that is still the case," he added.

Real Madrid 'to agree Kylian Mbappe free transfer' in January after failed PSG talks
Mbappe will sign a pre-contract agreement ahead of next season (Image: PA)

"We made two significant offers to Kylian: one at the level of the top players in our squad two months ago and one above that of those players very recently.

"We want to prove to him that he is an important player, at the centre of our project, but not above the project.

"In terms of our position on Real, it seems like a strategy to try to get a no from us, to show that they have tried everything and to wait for a year to get him for free.

"For the last two years, Real Madrid have been behaving like this, it is not correct, illegal even because they contacted the player.

"They want us to reject to show to Kylian that they tried everything and to start negotiating for next year."