Reports: Monaco reject £72m Manchester United bid for Kylian Mbappe

Monaco have asked £100m for the youngster

What’s the story

Manchester United have had a bid of £72m rejected for Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe, The Guardian reports. Mbappe, the 18-year-old forward, has caught everyone’s attention with his glittering performances in the Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season and there is no dearth of clubs in pursuit of him.

The same reports also claim that the Monaco-based club have slammed a price tag of £100m on the youngster, which means a club would have to pay a world record fee to sign the forward. 

In case you didn’t know...

After starting his youth career with AS Bondy, Mbappe moved to Monaco and made his first team debut in December 2015. Since then, he has left no stone unturned to ensure his club’s progress in the league and in Europe, and along with it, his own.

After having scored one goal in his first season, the French forward has gone on to smash 22 goals in 35 appearances for Monaco in all competitions. Mbappe was also part of the European U-19 Championship-winning French team, scoring five goals and providing an assist in the tourney.

With all of his on-field heroics in a little more than a year, the forward has garnered a lot of attention and there is every chance that his will be one of the most followed transfer sagas come summer.

The heart of the matter

United are on the lookout for a forward in the summer who can be a long-term replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. What has aggravated their problems is that the Swede is yet to put pen to paper on an extension and recently picked up an injury, which is set to keep him out for two to three months.

While Zlatan has shut all his critics with his performances this season, there is no denying the fact that he won’t be staying at United for long. This has forced England’s most successful club to find an able replacement and ensure they solve their goal scoring issues once and for all.

The reports claiming United’s bid has been rejected also say that Monaco are reluctant to let the youngster leave this summer in the hope that they can coup an even bigger sum next year for him.

What’s next

United have been linked to a host of creative players recently. Players ranging from Neymar to Antoine Griezmann to Bernardo Silva have all been linked with the club and with the financial powerhouse that United is, there are little chances that these rumours will die down.

As for Mbappe, he has a host of options in front of him and it will be interesting to see how the summer transfer window pans out for him.

Author’s Take

United’s financial capabilities are hidden from none and if not Mbappe, the Red Devils look set to sign at least two to three top players to strengthen themselves. Mbappe, on the other hand, needs to keep his feet on the ground, and the best option for him would be to stay another year at Monaco. This would ensure he gets ample game time to continue his transformation into one of Europe’s most feared attackers.