PSG face Man Utd competition for Mbappe replacement

Stuart Telford

• 2 Nov 2023 11:36 GMT
• 3 min read

Paris Saint-Germain are preparing for life after Kylian Mbappe but they will need to move quickly if they are to sign his successor ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City.

Mbappe's relationship with PSG and its chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has thawed - the forward is up to 12 goals in 12 games this season - but he is yet to extend upon his contract which expires next summer.

It is all but an open secret that he will join Real Madrid next year, adding to their collection of Galacticos, and Paris have reportedly shortlisted AC Milan's Rafa Leao as a potential replacement.

READ: Man Utd make CLUB RECORD move for superstar

The Portuguese winger, who, like Mbappe, likes to line up on the left before cutting inside on his stronger right foot, has started to cut a frustrated figure at the San Siro, and reacted angrily to be subbed off in Milan's 2-2 draw at Napoli last Sunday.

There is more than one club ready to pounce.

Leao to replace Mbappe?

"In recent months there has strong interest from Manchester City in the Portuguese," reports CalcioMercato's Giorgio Trobbiani. "But United and PSG are also at the table.

"The latter, especially if Mbappe were to choose Real Madrid, would have Leao's name at the top of their list to have a worthy successor to the Frenchman."

READ: Real Madrid 'really optimistic' on Mbappe after PSG identify €100m replacement

Leao has tallied three goals and four assists in 10 Serie A games this season, having hit 15 and 10 in each column from 35 last.

He is valued at €69 million per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm and Milan would be hopeful achieving more than the club record €67m they got from Real Madrid for Kaka in 2009 should they sell.

Leao signed a new five-year contract with Milan in June, but Paolo Maldini, one of his big allies at the club, left his role as technical director just four days later.