Can ANYONE afford Kylian Mbappe?! Football’s hottest property ‘scares off even mega-rich Manchester City with demands for £600,000-per-week’ as Pep Guardiola ramps up his hunt for Sergio Aguero’s long-term successor
- Manchester City want to sign a top striker in this summer’s transfer window
- The club will not move for Kylian Mbappe because of his huge wage demands
- It has been reported that the France star wants to earn around £600,000 a week
- City want to maintain their wage structure and harmony in the dressing room
- Erling Haaland is a target but there is interest in Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku
Manchester City are not pursuing PSG striker Kylian Mbappe because they have no intention of breaking their wage structure to meet his £600,000-a-week demands.
According to The Athletic, the France star is not on the Premier League leaders’ shortlist of replacements for Sergio Aguero despite his stunning form in Ligue 1.
It is claimed that City are admirers of Mbappe, who has 25 goals in all competitions this season, but will not attempt to sign him over fears his salary expectations could cause issues in the dressing room.
PSG’s Kylian Mbappe has reportedly scared off Manchester City with his huge wage demands
Pep Guardiola (left) is looking to replace legendary striker Sergio Aguero (right) this summer
It has been reported that Mbappe wants his next contract – at PSG or another club – to be worth around £600,000 per week.
The former Monaco forward has just over a year left on his current deal and is likely to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, with PSG said to be demanding interested clubs pay £174million for him when the transfer window reopens.
Real Madrid remain favourites to sign Mbappe, while Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in one of football’s most exciting young talents.
However, it appears as though City will not enter the race to sign him as they look to keep the harmony within Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Mbappe, pictured scoring against Brest on Saturday, has netted 25 goals for PSG this season
Mbappe has been in incredible form for PSG, as this graphic from www.sofascore.com shows
Despite being in the market to replace Aguero this summer, The Athletic report that City are prioritising a move for Borussia Dortmund’s prolific striker Erling Haaland.
And despite Real, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona all being interested in the Norwegian, he is seen as a more affordable option than Mbappe.
Guardiola is also said to be keen on Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Spurs captain Harry Kane, although the England striker’s price-tag may prove too much.
A City move for Mbappe would be more viable with no transfer fee to pay in 2022, but Guardiola remains keen to strengthen his attacking options this summer.
Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland is Manchester City’s top choice to replace Aguero
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has also been considered but Spurs could demand too much
Aguero has barely featured during to injury and illness this term, while questions over Gabriel Jesus’ ability to be City’s main man remain.
Mbappe, meanwhile, wants to earn roughly the same as his close friend and team-mate Neymar in the next deal he signs following another standout season.
The 22-year-old has scored 25 goals and provided eight assists in 32 games so far, helping Mauricio Pochettino’s side challenge for the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League knockout stages.