Born in the south east of Ireland, Simon put his life-long love of football to good use when he started a successful independent blog in 2010. That opened up an alternative route to a career in journalism, and having had work published across a number of sites and publications, Simon joined the staff at Spotlight Sports Group in 2018.
Kylian MBappe has suggested that he could quit Paris Saint-Germain next month in an announcement that could trigger the biggest scramble of the summer transfer window.
The 20-year-old World Cup winning striker was named the best player in French football on Sunday night at the Ligue 1 awards ceremony, picking up both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year honours.
However, after accepting his prizes from former Chelsea and Marseille star Didier Drogba, MBappe dropped his bombshell saying:
“It’s a very important moment for me, I’ve come to a turning point in my career.
“I have discovered a lot here, and I feel it is perhaps the moment to have more responsibility.
“I hope that can maybe be at Paris Saint-Germain, that would be a great pleasure. Or perhaps elsewhere with a new project.”
The phenomenally talented attacker scored 32 goals to help his current club Paris St. Germain retain the Ligue 1 title, however, the club disappointed in the Champions League again and suffered an embarrassing Last 16 exit at the hands of an injury-stricken Manchester United side.
When quizzed further about his comments after the ceremony, Mbappe stood by his comments, adding:
“I said what I had to say. When you are in such an occasion you can send messages, I think I have sent mine.
“If I speak more it will be too much and that is not the message I wish to send.”
Mbappe’s stunning revelations would have provoked immediate conversations about his future in boardrooms at major clubs across the continent – but which of Europe’s biggest hitters are favourites to sign the Frenchman?
Real Madrid – 2/1
Since the turn of the year, every major Spanish media outlet has been running stories detailing Real Madrid’s plans for an enormous €500m squad rebuild this summer.
Already, money spinning moves for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard have been touted, though Real Madrid would prioritise a deal for Kylian Mbappe over the aforementioned duo if the Frenchman became available.
With former French World Cup winner and Les Blues icon Zinedine Zidane back in the manager’s hotseat at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid will feel that they have everything in place to entice Mbappe to the Spanish capital this summer.
Manchester City 25/1
Fresh from a campaign that verged on footballing perfection, English domestic treble winners Manchester City will be looking for the players they need this summer, to take that final step towards Champions League glory next year.
While their current squad is packed to bursting with attacking talent, City wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to sign a player like Kylian Mbappe should the Frenchman actually come on the market before the start of next season.
City’s all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero is the wrong side of 30, while Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus have both been linked with moves away in their search for more regular first team football.
Their departures alone would open up sufficient room for Mbappe’s arrival, and City certainly have the financial clout to make a deal happen.
Barcelona – 33/1
Real Madrid’s La Liga rivals and newly crowned Spanish champions are also in the hunt for major reinforcements this summer after their Champions League Semi Final capitulation against Liverpool.
With Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez on the wane and Philippe Coutinho failing to establish himself as a Camp Nou regular, Barcelona are in the market for attacking talent to complement the evergreen Lionel Messi.
Los Cules had been strongly linked with a move for wantaway Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, though the club’s supporters seem against the idea of signing that particular Frenchman.
The same fans would be much more enthusiastic about the idea of signing Griezmann’s compatriot Mbappe however, and Barcelona will be close the front of the queue for his signature should he leave PSG.
Mbappe not to sign or agree a contract with any other club – 2/7
While many have construed Mbappe’s recent comments as an indication of his desire to leave PSG, the striker’s revelations could easily be interpreted in an entirely different way.
Mbappe’s desire to “have more responsibility” could imply that he alone wants to be the poster-boy for the Parisians instead of his current spotlight hogging teammate Neymar.
Neymar has long flirted with the idea of a return to Spain with either former club Barcelona or Real Madrid, and his departure would allow PSG to put Mbappe on the pedestal he so clearly craves.
PSG would be incredibly reluctant to let their native Parisian and international superstar leave without a fight, and they are certain to move heaven and earth to keep Mbappe happy – that might include allowing their €222m signing Neymar depart.
Neymar seems destined to pull on the white of Real Madrid at some point in his career, and circumstances could allow that inevitable transfer to happen this summer. The 27-year old Brazilian international would command a fee beyond the insane sum PSG paid for his services 2 years ago however, but having smashed the world transfer record on numerous occasions over the past 20 years, astronomical fees are unlikely to scare Los Blancos off.
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