Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have reportedly accepted a massive €300 million (£259 million) bid from Al-Hilal for their star player Kylian Mbappe. However, there are speculations that Mbappe could potentially end up at Newcastle United instead.
Al-Hilal is majority-owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which also happens to be the majority shareholders of Newcastle. This has led to rumors of a potential switch to the Premier League for Mbappe, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, another PIF-owned club, in January. Reports of a loan deal to Newcastle also surfaced but were later denied by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
While the possibility of Mbappe joining Newcastle seems unlikely at this point, it is worth noting that several factors would need to align for the 24-year-old to become a Newcastle player. To begin with, he would have to accept a move to Saudi Arabia, which does not seem to align with his previous comments that he has little interest in moving to a cold place like Newcastle.
In a viral video from a plane journey prior to the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe’s teammate Antoine Griezmann showed off his impressive record on Football Manager, where he managed to lead Newcastle to victory in multiple competitions. However, Mbappe jokingly expressed his doubt about joining Newcastle, mentioning that the weather is not hot there.
Interestingly, it’s quite warm in Riyadh, where Al-Hilal plays its home games. The Saudi club has reportedly offered Mbappe an astonishing annual salary of €700 million (£603 million), which would make him the highest-paid footballer in the world. Furthermore, Al-Hilal is even open to offering him a free transfer in a year’s time.
Mbappe’s current contract with PSG is set to expire next summer, and there has been interest from Real Madrid to sign him. PSG’s acceptance of Al-Hilal’s offer is likely an attempt to sell their prized asset this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer. However, according to French newspaper L’Equipe, Mbappe has little interest in accepting a short-term payday in Saudi Arabia.
For Mbappe to have any chance of joining Newcastle in the long run, he would need to sign a long-term contract with Al-Hilal or establish a long-term agreement with PIF. The likelihood of such arrangements happening remains slim, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility of him making a move to the Premier League.
Other clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, have shown interest in signing Mbappe, with Barcelona and Inter Milan closely monitoring the situation. PSG will push for a sale this summer, while Mbappe will try to remain part of their squad for now.
In the end, only time will tell where Mbappe’s future lies. While a move to Newcastle seems unlikely given the circumstances, the allure of playing in the Premier League remains strong, and Mbappe’s talent will undoubtedly attract attention from top clubs across Europe.
