PSG youth director: Manchester City are still in contention to sign Kylian Mbappé – City Watch

Manchester City could still provide competition for PSG in the race for Monaco’s Kylian Mbappé – and those are the words of an employee of the Parisien club.

Luis Fernandez, the sporting director of PSG’s academy, spoke to Cadena SER in Spain and believes it is not as clear-cut as many think that he will make the controversial move from Monaco to PSG.

“There are four or five players that need to leave PSG due to Financial Fair Play,” Fernandez said, casting doubt on PSG’s ability to do a deal for the 18-year-old.

“I think he has two or three teams in his mind which are Real Madrid, PSG and perhaps Manchester City. City have a good friend of his, Benjamin Mendy, who has gone there.

“I do not think he has made a decision. He did not play last Sunday because he is in a situation where he is considering whether to stay or to leave.

“But Kylian is 18 and must take the decision with his family and entourage.”

City failed in an attempt to sign Mbappé a year ago for €40million when he was little known, and have remained interested, but Monaco’s asking price of around €180million is prohibitive for any club – even PSG, who have already splashed out €222million to sign Neymar in a world record deal this summer.

Pep Guardiola wants one more elite attacker in his squad and hasn’t given up on Alexis Sanchez, but Arsene Wenger remains resistant to selling the 28-year-old. Mbappé would be another very difficult deal to pull off, and City have a fortnight to try and bring in one of the two or any alternative Pep may have in mind.