Paris Saint-Germain issue contract ultimatum to Kylian Mbappe?

The France international was seemingly on course for a free transfer to Real Madrid last year before unexpectedly committing his future to PSG for the next two seasons.

Mbappe's renewal included the option of a third year, but the 24-year-old recently sent a letter to the PSG hierarchy confirming that he had no plans to activate the clause.

Having supposedly been left furious at Mbappe's refusal to extend his contract, PSG are actively working to sell the forward this summer before his possible exit on a free transfer in 2024.

However, Mbappe has curiously insisted that he plans to continue at the Parc des Princes for the upcoming season, and he is not thinking about his future until next summer.

Despite Mbappe's affirmations, The Times - via Marca - claims that PSG have now given the striker an ultimatum in a bid to convince him to extend his contract.

Should Mbappe relent and take up that 12-month option, PSG have supposedly promised him that he can join any other club next year, provided that the interested party pays at least €100m (£86m).

However, should the former Monaco starlet stand firm and continue to resist the club's efforts to tie him down, PSG will do everything in their power to offload him before the close of the window.

Real Madrid - who failed with a £137m bid for the attacker in 2021- have been put on red alert by Mbappe's contract saga, and Los Blancos will eventually need to sign a permanent replacement for Karim Benzema following the Ballon d'Or winner's move to Al-Ittihad.

Joselu has joined the club on a season-long loan from Espanyol with a view to a possible permanent deal in 2024, but at 33 years old, the Spain international will not be a long-term option.

Despite the exits of Benzema, Mariano Diaz, Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio, Real president Florentino Perez has claimed that Real will make no further signings after the capture of Joselu.

With Real Madrid seemingly content to wait until 2024 to see if Mbappe is still available, Manchester United may be the Frenchman's only realistic option for a summer move if Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani's takeover bid is successful.

Sheikh Jassim is thought to be ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the race to buy the club from the Glazer family, but the American owners are yet to accept any bids from either party as things stand.

Following a season-long loan in the 2017-18 campaign, PSG signed Mbappe permanently from Monaco for a €180m (£154.8m) fee, making him the second most expensive player of all time behind teammate Neymar.

The World Cup winner has since scored a club-record 212 goals in 260 matches for the French champions, including 29 strikes in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season for his fifth Golden Boot.