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Madrid, Monday 

Real Madrid’s desire to land Kylian Mbappe this summer could see them tempted into a third offer of €200million (£172m), according to reports in France.

Two offers for Mbappe, who is out of contract in Paris at the end of next season, have so far proven unsuccessful for the Spanish giants but they remain focused. 

French daily newspaper L’Equipe report that a third and final offer of £172m could be made to force PSG into cashing in on their star striker. 

Mbappe, 22, has been Madrid’s top priority for some time, with Los Blancos keen to land the Frenchman during Zinedine Zidane’s tenure and the objective remains the same under Carlo Ancelotti.

Real Madrid have tried to remain confident of landing Mbappe despite their second bid of €180m (£154m) being knocked back by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

The improved offer, confirmed by the Spanish club to Sportsmail, of €170m (£145m) plus €10m (£9m) in add-ons was tabled on Thursday but Al-Khelaifi responded: ‘Our position is clear. We will not change it or repeat it.’

PSG had reacted angrily to Madrid’s first bid on Tuesday of €160m (£137m). 

Sporting Director Leonardo accused the 13 times European Cup holders of ‘illegal and disrespectful behaviour’.

Nonetheless, Real Madrid remain in position with club director Emilio Butragueno, speaking at the Champions League draw, saying the Spanish club was ‘calm and patient’ over its push to sign the 22-year-old forward. 

Mbappe started for PSG on Sunday night despite the speculation and performed superbly on what he described as the ‘perfect night’, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Reims in which Lionel Messi made his debut. 

That performance will do little to loosen PSG’s grip on one of the game’s brightest young stars and Real know they face a fight with the window ready to close.

They want Mbappe to make his LaLiga debut on September 11 when Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabeu in front of a reduced 40,000 capacity.

Despite the pandemic wiping €300m (£257m) off revenue since the pandemic they say two frugal summers without a major signing have left them in a position to smash their transfer record for the French forward.  – Daily Mail