Real Madrid are reportedly set to reignite their interest in Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe and they are prepared to spend up to €1bn to lure him to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 23-year-old was strongly linked with a switch to the Spanish capital over the summer, with his initial contract due to expire in June 2022.
However, Mbappe eventually put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with PSG, keeping him at Parc des Princes until the summer of 2024, with an option to extend by a further 12 months.
Mbappe has made an exceptional start to the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists in 20 matches for the Parisian giants across all competitions.
The Frenchman also excelled for his country at the 2022 World Cup and came away with the Golden Boot award after netting eight times in just seven matches, including a hat-trick in the final which ultimately saw Les Bleus lose to Argentina on penalties.
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While Mbappe has been scoring goals for fun, speculation continues to swirl regarding his next career move, with the forward allegedly deciding that signing his new contract at PSG was a "mistake".
According to Gazzetta.it, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez still holds a firm interest in Mbappe and is prepared to go all out to sign the forward next summer.
The report adds that Los Blancos are prepared to put together a transfer package worth a whopping €1bn (£878m) over a four-year contract.
Real believe that they could strike a deal with PSG over a transfer fee in the region of €150m (£132m) plus signing-on fees and commission, while wages totalling to around €630m (£556m) 'would not scare' Perez who is ready to make Mbappe his next Galactico.
It is thought that Real are concerned about the persistent fitness issues of 35-year-old striker Karim Benzema, and Perez has identifying Mbappe as the ideal heir to the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner.
Real Madrid legend Guti has urged his former club to pursue a deal for Mbappe and believes the Frenchman needs to join a club of Real's calibre if he wishes to follow in the footsteps of elite stars such as PSG teammate Lionel Messi and former Los Blancos forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
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"The best have to stay at Real Madrid. Seeing him play for PSG makes me angry, and not only for Real but also for La Liga," Guti told reporters via Gazzetta.it. "La Liga must always have the best in the world.
"Mbappe is a player made for Real, and then if he wants to do what Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have done, he has to play for Real Madrid because he won't make it for PSG.
"Madrid must go and get him immediately, now. There are good players on the market, but none like him. Yes, [Erling Braut] Haaland maybe, but a step below. Mbappe, he is unique.
"Only he can give what Messi gave to Barcelona or Ronaldo to Madrid. Nobody else."
Manchester United and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in Mbappe, but they are thought to be prioritising other targets at present.
Less than 72 hours after losing in the World Cup final, Mbappe reported back to PSG training ahead of the resumption of the 2022-23 campaign, with the Ligue 1 holders returning to action with a home encounter against Strasbourg on December 28.
Oliver Thomas
