Mbappe to the Etihad?
Manchester City are plotting to take advantage of Paris Saint-Germain’s financial woes by swooping for World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, claims The Sun.
The paper says that Uefa are “probing” the French champions’ books as part of a Financial Fair Play (FFP) investigation and City are stalking their Gallic rivals with a view to exploiting the situation.
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Uefa cleared PSG of breaking rules earlier this year but according to the Sun the governing body is now reviewing that decision. The Club Financial Control Body is taking over the investigation.
PSG spent £198m in the summer of last year to bring Neymar to the French capital from Barcelona. They then paid Monaco £162m for Mbappe.
Since then they’ve been plagued by allegations of financial excess and City apparently believe that PSG will be forced to sell Mbappe in order to balance their books.
Mbappe in and Sterling out
The 19-year-old frontman will not come cheap. The Sun says PSG will demand a “world record £200m” and Mbappe would also expect to receive £20m a year in wages.
But Citizens’ manager Pep Guardiola is ready to make that commitment, says the Manchester Evening News (MEN), which describes him as a “huge admirer” of the French goalscorer.
Mind you, adds the Sun, City would have to sell “at least one star” to keep within FFP regulations. The paper believes the man most likely to be moved on to make way for Mbappe is England forward Raheem Sterling.
His current contract expires next year and City have failed to agree a long-term extension deal with his representatives, fuelling speculation that Sterling won’t be at City beyond 2019.
The MEN says that City would be “reluctant” to see Sterling leave but their reticence would be sweetened by the arrival of Mbappe.
It was reported in August that Spanish giants Real Madrid were interested in signing the 23-year-old.
Foden must keep feet on the ground
Talking of talented teenagers, the Daily Star says that Phil Foden will be “kept waiting for a new five-year contract” by City.
According to recent reports, the 18-year-old, who is currently impressing in his first season in the senior squad, was poised to pen a lucrative new deal worth £25,000-a-week.
The man known to City fans as the “Stockport Iniesta” takes home only £3,000 a week and feels he’s worth a lot more. So do his club but the Star says that “Etihad bosses are determined to ensure the talented youngster keeps his feet firmly on the ground”.
A new contract will be offered to Foden, but the MEN reports that City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain wants to ensure that it’s a deal that ties the youngster to the club without showering him with head-turning riches.
