PSG scoop Mbappe in cool deal
Paris, Sept. 1: Paris SaintGermain clinched a sensational deal to prise wonderkid Kylian Mbappe away from Monaco on Thursday in a deal that is poised to become the second most expensive transfer in history.
Less than a month after the world-record arrival of Brazilian icon Neymar in the French capital and only hours before a recordbreaking transfer window closed, 18-year-old Mbappe joined PSG on a seasonlong loan.
The France striker is expected to sign for 180 million ($215 million) euros next year in a move designed to prevent PSG falling foul of Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
“It is with great joy and pride that I join Paris Saint-Germain,” said Mbappe.
“I really wanted to be a part of the club’s project, which is one of the most ambitious in Europe.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s sensational 222 million euros capture of Neymar from Barcelona earlier this
Less than a month after the world-record arrival of Brazilian icon Neymar in the French capital and only hours before a record-breaking transfer window closed, 18-year-old Mbappe joined PSG on a season-long loan month has sent transfer fees skyrocketing across the continent.
Barcelona have already spent 105 million euros, rising to 145 million euros, to lure France starlet Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund.
But Liverpool continue to resist Barca’s attempts to lure Neymar’s Brazil team mate Philippe Coutinho to Camp Nou, having rejected three offers for the playmaker.
Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. However, with deadline day clashing with a round of World Cup qualifying matches, Lemar spent Thursday preparing for France’s game against the Netherlands at Stade de France.
As Arsenal looked unlikely to complete the signing of Lemar, Manchester City’s pursuit of Alexis Sanchez was dealt a knock-on blow despite Pep Guardiola’s side upping their bid for the Chilean star.
British media reported that having seen a £50 million ($64.4 million) offer for Sanchez rebuffed, City had returned with a second bid of £55 million.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur completed moves for Arsenal’s Alex OxladeChamberlain and PSG’s Serge Aurier respectively as record PL spending soared above £1.2 billion.
Liverpool are reported to have spent £35 million on Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is believed to have signed a five-year contract.
The 24-year-old England midfielder is thought to have rejected a new contract offer from Arsenal and an approach from Chelsea, both of whom were prepared to pay him more money.
EPL CLUBS IN RECORD
£1.4 BN WINDOW English Premier League clubs spent a record £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) on players in a summer transfer window but were still living “well within their means” according to figures published by football analysts Deloitte.
The window, which closed in England on Thursday, also saw teams from English football’s top tier set a new deadline day spending record of £210 million.
The late splashing of cash took the league’s overall transfer spending figure since the very first transfer window in January 2003 past £10 billion. The total amount spent by Premier League clubs in this transfer window was up 23 percent on last year’s record figure. Premier League clubs have also broken the record for spending in a single season (£1.430 million) and calendar year (£1.645 million).
— AFP