Real Madrid ready to make bid to sign PSG's Mbappe - sources - ESPN

Real Madrid are ready to bid for Kylian Mbappe this summer rather than waiting to sign him as a free agent when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires next season, sources have told ESPN.

Mbappe's future is uncertain once again after L'Equipe reported on Monday that the forward had written to PSG to inform them that he would not be exercising his option to extend his deal by another year, meaning his contract would be up in June 2024.

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Sources have told ESPN that PSG would be willing to listen to offers of around €150 million ($161.5m) for Mbappe this summer, to avoid losing him for free a year later.

Mbappe released a statement via AFP on Tuesday which read: «The board has been informed since July 15, 2022 of my decision not to extend beyond 2024, and the letter sent was only meant to confirm what I already told them.»

Madrid are now on alert, sources said, as they look for a centre-forward to replace Karim Benzema, who joined Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad last week.

ESPN has reported that Madrid view Tottenham's Harry Kane as the best available option to act as Benzema's successor, but there are doubts within the club about paying a high transfer fee for a player who turns 30 next month.

Madrid's original plan this summer was to sign a back-up for Benzema — such as Espanyol's Joselu — before pushing for Mbappe or Erling Haaland in 2024.

The LaLiga club have already brought in left-back Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano and playmaker Brahim Diaz — returning from a three-year loan at AC Milan — and agreed a deal worth €103m ($111m) plus variables with Borussia Dortmund for midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Sources told ESPN that it's still too early to know what will happen with