AS Monaco have revealed they are undergoing contract talks with striker Kylian Mbappe, contrary to reports they had agreed a deal with Real Madrid.
BREAKING: @AS_Monaco say club discussing a contract extension with @KMbappe. #SSN pic.twitter.com/OvtvPYPJPr
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 26, 2017
Mbappe helped Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and Champions League semi-finals last season, scoring 15 goals and making eight assists in 29 appearances. He’s been linked with Real Madrid and Arsenal this summer and was recently reported to have agreed a £120m deal with the former.
However, Monaco are putting their foot down after seeing their side decimated by big European clubs, losing Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva to Manchester City and Tiemoué Bakayoko to Chelsea. Thomas Lemar has been linked with Arsenal too.
The club could also be protecting their best asset with a long-term deal to ensure they can get full value in the transfer market regardless of when they look to sell him. Mbappe’s goalscoring tally makes him one of the brightest talents of his generation so Monaco don’t want to risk losing him for cheap because his deal has been allowed to run down.
The potential new deal doesn’t necessary mean a deal won’t happen this summer or in January, but it’s likely to buy Monaco another year with Mbappe and still get maximum value for the teenager next summer, provided he enjoys another successful season for the defending champions.