According to rumours, Kylian Mbappe may quit PSG this summer after alerting the club that he does not plan to extend his contract.
After a fruitless pursuit last year, the huge decision made after talks over a new deal in Paris went down is likely to put Real Madrid on high alert.
Mbappe addressed speculation about a free move away from PSG before of this season by signing a three-year contract extension.
However, according to L’Equipe, the 24-year-old has informed the Ligue 1 champions that he will not exercise his option for a further year until 2025.
As a result, if he does not leave during the forthcoming summer transfer window, he will be free to leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Despite positive contract negotiations, Mbappe allegedly made his decision plain in an official letter given to the Parisiens on Monday.
According to the source, PSG has no intention of losing him for free, and will attempt to sell him in the coming months as a result of his shocking declaration.
It will almost certainly inspire significant ties to Real Madrid after Los Blancos failed to gain his talents during a protracted saga last year.
However, Real Madrid are set to spend more than £100 million to recruit Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, overcoming out Premier League opposition.
Such a cost might cast doubt on the La Liga giants’ ability to sign Mbappe within the same transfer window, given that he would require a similarly large amount.
If he wants to play at the Bernabeu, the newly-appointed French captain might stay at PSG until the summer before signing a pre-contract with Real in January 2024.
If he is set to leave before the 2023/24 season, a transfer to England’s top flight could be appealing.
Given PSG’s Qatari ties, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s ownership of Manchester United could be an intriguing possibility.
Rivals Manchester City has recently won the treble and is flush with cash. Pep Guardiola could try to make Mbappe and Erling Haaland’s ideal pairing a reality.
Liverpool have also been heavily associated with the explosive forward in the past, but the Reds’ inability to qualify for the Champions League has put an end to those aspirations for the time being.