Kylian Mbappe wage demands emerge as real cost of Liverpool transfer made clear

While Liverpool and Real Madrid are still rumored to be interested in the PSG star, the 25-year-old is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any interested parties.

Kylian Mbappe may soon be a free agent but he is far from a cost-free option for Liverpool (Image: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images)

Several of Europe’s top teams would be interested in signing Kylian Mbappe, the star forward from Paris Saint-Germain, for nothing this summer, but once the full cost of the forward’s salary and bonuses is calculated, reality will set in.

Real Madrid is regarded as the favorite to sign Mbappe, but Liverpool is one of many teams linked to him. The France star has not yet signed a contract renewal, but PSG has offered him a deal.

Mbappe has not yet decided on his future in public, despite conflicting reports regarding the status of his anticipated departure. PSG executives are displeased with him because he has already stated that he will not consent to having his current contract extended.

Parisians, meanwhile, are reportedly more at ease with the situation because Mbappe won’t be getting the reported bonus payments—which are estimated to be in the tens of millions—that he would have gotten had he been sold. However, it is anticipated that the soon-to-be free agent will make enormous demands over pay and signing-on fees as a result of being able to speak with foreign teams and sign pre-contract agreements.

According to The Telegraph, Mbappe is expected to pursue an annual salary of £64.5 million, which equates to an astonishing £1.24 million per week. Few teams could afford that, and even Real Madrid might need to let go of a few players in order to make such terms possible.

Considering that Mbappe’s pay would be nearly four times greater than Mohamed Salah’s stated salary, this would almost definitely eliminate Liverpool from the running. It goes without saying that the Reds have not enjoyed the financial luxury of large coffers, as witnessed at a number of competing Premier League teams.

Unless such high-profile players were let go, a move as costly as this for Mbappe from any Premier League team would raise the possibility of breaking Financial Fair Play regulations. “There is no agreement around Kylian’s future, especially since there are no discussions started about it,” read a statement issued by Mbappe’s camp on Monday.

The timing of Kylian’s discussions, reflections, or decision-making could not be dictated by any kind of influence.

Nasser Al Khelaifi, the president of PSG, stated this week that he wants Kylian Mbappe to remain at PSG. PSG is the ideal club for him because he is the best player in the world. He’s essential to our endeavor.”