Boost for Liverpool as Mbappe agrees to forgo £69m loyalty bonus to complete PSG exit
Kylian Mbappe has opted to relinquish a £69 million loyalty bonus in a bid to facilitate a more harmonious departure from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with Liverpool poised to make their move.
The 25-year-old forward has recently entered the final six months of his substantial PSG contract, which was secured in 2022 amid strong interest from Real Madrid.
Earlier in the current season, tensions rose when Mbappe informed the club that he wouldn’t be extending his contract by one year, leading to his exclusion from the pre-season tour of Asia.
Despite the initial dispute, PSG reinstated Mbappe into manager Luis Enrique’s squad and awarded him an 80 million euro loyalty bonus for staying beyond the summer transfer window.
However, Mbappe has chosen to waive the first installment of this bonus and is prepared to forgo the entire amount if he departs Paris this summer.
In the midst of intricate financial developments, as highlighted by Caught Offside, the captain of the French national team is now in a position to enter into a pre-contract agreement with a new club.
Liverpool aims to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding his future. While Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid was previously regarded as the most interested party, recent reports during the winter indicate that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has emerged as the frontrunner.
This shift in dynamics follows earlier discussions between Liverpool and the player regarding a potential transfer.
“I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum,” Mbappe told the Telegraph in 2022. “I don’t know why, you will have to ask her! It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.”
Despite the ongoing speculation, he has not dismissed the possibility of remaining in the French capital. After PSG secured a 2-0 victory over Toulouse in the French Super Cup on Wednesday, the former Monaco starlet expressed his motivation for the upcoming year, stating, “I’m very, very, very motivated for this year. It’s very important.”
“As I said, we’ve got titles to go after and we’ve already won one, so that’s already done. After that, no, I haven’t made up my mind yet. But in any case, with the agreement I made with the chairman this summer, it doesn’t matter what I decide.
“We managed to protect all parties and preserve the club’’ serenity for the challenges ahead, which remains the most important thing. So we’ll say it’s secondary.”
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi showered praise on Mbappe after his return to the squad – and the goals – in September, stating: “Kylian Mbappe is an incredible player and fantastic person. And the PSG team, on and off the field, has never been so united.”
Boost for Liverpool as Mbappe agrees to forgo £69m loyalty bonus to complete PSG exit
