According to AS, Real Madrid are ready to go ahead with "Operation Mbappe", their long-awaited plan to bring the French superstar to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish publication claim the Liga champions are targeting a move for the 2018 World Cup winner as early as this summer due to his contract situation at PSG.
The 22-year-old's current contract at the Parc des Princes ends in June 2022, meaning Les Parisiens must tie him down to a new deal this summer or cash in on the highly-rated Frenchman. The Ligue 1 champions do not want to see their star striker enter the final 12 months of his contract just to lose him for a cut-price fee or for free come the summer of 2022.
PSG hold no desire to sell Mbappe. However, with their failure to win the UEFA Champions League and yet another managerial change – Tuchel was recently sacked and replaced by Pochettino – there is little to suggest Kylian will extend his contract in Paris, hence Real Madrid's readiness to launch a raid this summer.
However, it should be stressed that the former Monaco man won't come cheap, which is obvious. Real Madrid contemplate he could cost anywhere from $182M to $270M as the French giants look to recoup the world-record fee they splashed on Neymar back in 2017.
The player's annual wages would cost Zidane's side $25.5M per year, which is not problematic for the club. However, the same cannot be said about the transfer fee, with Real Madrid being one of the most hard-hit teams by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, the Spanish champions could look to move on six players to raise funds. It will come as no surprise to see Gareth Bale on the list as he has long been an outcast during Zidane's reign. However, it remains uncertain whether Tottenham will make their loan deal for the Welshman a permanent one after yet another injury-plagued season. Two other players on the chopping block are Isco and Dani Ceballos, two Spanish midfielders who face an impossible task to break into the starting eleven. Luka Jovic, Brahim Diaz, and Marcelo could also be sold to raise funds.
