By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kylian Mbappe has never expressed an interest in leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January, the club’s sporting director Luis Campos said Tuesday, stepping into the swirl of rumours around the star striker.
“I am with Kylian Mbappe every day, he has never talked to me about leaving in January,” Campos told French TV station Canal Plus before the kick-off of the Champions League game against Benfica in Paris.
The news comes just five months after Mbappe, 23, signed a new contract, with sources saying he feels at odds with the club’s direction on and off the pitch.
He is open to any destination, but signing for Real Madrid would be his preference, sources added.
Spanish newspaper Marca has reported that Mbappe told PSG he wanted to leave in July amid significant interest from Real Madrid, who bid £154million for the 23-year-old in the summer before he snubbed the Spanish giants to sign a new contract in Paris.
But Marca have now claimed that PSG will not entertain any offer from Real if Mbappe does leave now, leaving Liverpool as one of his only feasible options.
According to the publication, PSG have agreed to work on Mbappe’s exit provided it met certain conditions, including that a move to the Bernabeu be taken off the table.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed interest in Mbappe, considered one of the best players in the world, in the past but the finances involved could be a stumbling block to any deal with the Reds.
He has been consistently linked with Klopp’s side in recent years, with the Frenchman reportedly keen to test himself in the Premier League.
The French star signed a new deal with PSG worth a staggering £650,000-a-week in the summer, but the eye-watering contract has not prevented continued speculation over his future.
Source: News Agencies.