Manchester United eye up Kylian Mbappe as £150m Cristiano Ronaldo replacement

As Manchester United begin to come to terms with Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive interview, the Red Devils may well have identified the next big star to lead their frontline

Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United will explore the chances of signing Kylian Mbappe in a sensational £150m deal.

France superstar Mbappe has emerged as a shock target to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. United, who are also interested in England and Tottenham ace Harry Kane, will jettison Ronaldo following his bombshell interview in which he savaged the club.

Ronaldo accused United of betrayal and trying to force him out, as well as admitting he has no respect for boss Erik ten Hag. There is no way back for Ronaldo and his exit ahead of schedule has made United more determined to focus on a world class replacement.

United are also one of the few clubs in Europe able to pay Mbappe £500,000-a-week, the same wages as Ronaldo, along with significant performance-related bonuses, to tempt the world’s most exciting young player to make the move to England as he plots the next big move of his career.

Napoli’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is also on United’s radar and is a more attainable January target, with the Serie A club having braced themselves for a multitude of offers for their prolific £60m-rated forward when the window opens in six weeks. But Mbappe would be the dream signing for United, however difficult it might be to pull off such a huge transfer coup.

Mbappe is reportedly on United's transfer radar

Mbappe was set to join Real Madrid in 2021, but reneged on the proposed move, choosing instead to sign a lucrative contract extension with PSG last May until 2025. Real President Florentino Perez was dismayed at Mbappe’s snub and the Spanish club’s interest in the 23-year-old has since cooled, opening the door for United to emerge as contenders for his signature.

United know Europe’s top club’s will be in the market for a striker next summer, and are therefore primed to steal a march on their rivals by moving for their target in January, when the transfer window reopens.

Manchester City and Liverpool will not be in the market for a striker next summer, given they already bought big last summer, with Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunes respectively, leaving United as realistic contenders.

Although it would be hard to prise Mbappe from PSG mid-season, with the French champions still involved in the Champions League, with a last 16 tie against Bayern Munich, United are set to explore the possibility, given there is no way back for Ronaldo.