PSG issue defiant update on Kylian Mbappe's future amid tenuous Manchester United transfer links

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed that he will not allow forward Kylian Mbappe to leave the club for free in 12 months' time.

The France international, who has reportedly been identified as a 'dream target' for prospective Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, is out of contract in the French capital next summer. He has already put the world's biggest clubs on red alert after informing PSG last month that he will not be signing a new deal.

The forward, who netted a hat-trick in last year's World Cup final in Qatar, will automatically become a free agent next summer if he fails to put pen to paper on a contract extension. He has constantly been linked with Spanish giants Real Madrid in recent months, as well as several other European heavyweights, including United.

However, Al-Khelaifi, who last month denied that he had any involvement in Sheikh Jassim's plans to buy United, will not allow Mbappe to leave the club for free, suggesting that if he fails to agree to signing a new deal he will have to be sold this summer.

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Al-Khelaifi said: "Our position is very clear. If Kylian Mbappe wants to stay - we want him to stay - he needs to sign a new contract.

"We cannot let the best player in the world right now leave for free. That is impossible."

The 24-year-old, who netted an astonishing 41 goals in 43 appearances for PSG last term, turned down a move to Madrid last summer before signing a new deal at PSG, which was initially announced as a three-year contract but was