BAP’S THE FIGURE
£130MILLION
Manchester United are leading the chase for the prolific France teenager who has banged in 19 goals in 32 games this season but face fierce competition from a host of rivals – at home and abroad.
Chelsea and Arsenal have made their interest in Mbappe, 18, known during the past six months, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and French big spenders Paris Saint-Germain have recently added their names to the list of suitors.
However, unless one of them is prepared to smash the current world transfer record of £89.3m – by some £40m – Mbappe will be going nowhere any time soon.
United had hoped to steal a march in the race by weighing in with an early, substantial offer.
Yet their reported £80m enquiry has barely registered with Ligue 1 leaders Monaco, who are also through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after dumping Man City out in the last round.
Although the French outfit plan to sell several of their sought-after stars this summer, Mbappe is not among those being made available.
For now Monaco are in a strong position, with the talented f orward having penned a new deal only last year, which ties him down until June 2019.
Mbappe,whose father doubles up as his agent, is in no rush to leave. After receiving his first call-up to the French senior squad this month, his aim now is to nail down a spot in Didier Deschamps’ side before the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
And both Mbappe and his dad believe the best chance of doing that is to remain at Monaco next season.
If that is a big blow to the transfer plans of United and the rest, there are plenty of other Monaco aces very much on the radar of the English elite. Premier League leaders Chelsea are favourites to complete a £40m close- season deal for French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 22 (below, left). Both United and Tottenham have been heavily linked with a £35m swoop for French playmaker Bernardo Silva, also 22, while Arsenal and Man City are targeting £25m-rated Brazil midfielder Fabinho, 23 (left) who can play at the back as well. Pep Guardiola’s City are also eyeing moves for left-back Benjamin Mendy, 22, and midfielder Thomas Lemar, 21, who are both rated at £30m.