Al Hilal aim to lure Kylian Mbappe to Saudi Arabia with world record bid

It’s understood the club have offered 300 million euros for the striker

It’s understood that Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal have submitted a world record 300 million euro (£259m) bid for Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe’s future in Paris is in serious doubt after the 24-year-old was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Japan.

It’s believed that Al Hilal have submitted a bid in writing for Mbappe, who is out of contract next summer, and have permission from PSG to speak to the player.

Sources close to the French club say there has also been interest in the player from other clubs in recent days, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Barcelona.

The current world record transfer fee was paid by PSG, when they signed Neymar from Barcelona for a deal reported at the time as £200m in 2017.

Transfer speculation has surrounded Mbappe since it became clear he would not activate a one-year extension in his contract with PSG which would have tied him to the club until 2025.

While he has gone on record about his intention to stay at PSG, the club would risk losing him for nothing next summer if no new deal is signed.

PSG are understood to be certain that Mbappe has agreed a free transfer to Real Madrid next summer, with Parisian sources saying he would benefit from a 160m euro (£138m) signing-on fee if he moved to the Spanish capital for nothing.

A sale this summer would enable PSG to secure a return on their investment in Mbappe, who they signed for 180m euros from Monaco and retained last summer on a lucrative new contract amid earlier interest from Real.

Al Hilal are one of four Saudi Pro League clubs who are now majority-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund with assets under management reportedly worth over £500billion.

The club – along with three others under majority control by the PIF – have invested heavily in the European transfer market this summer but the acquisition of Mbappe – arguably the best player on the planet at the current time – would be the biggest statement of Saudi Arabian strength yet.

Published: 24/07/2023 by Radio NewsHub