Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are engaged in perhaps the longest game of poker over Kylian Mbappe that football has ever seen. And there’s no sign that either side will blink right away.
As PSG try to ensure Mbappe does not leave for free, the pressure is mounting on them to secure a sale, with three weeks left until the end of the transfer window.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, could certainly do with a natural striker this summer, but must also weigh the cost against the potential prospect of him arriving on a free next summer.
According to Marca newspaper, Los Blancos have been patiently waiting for a sign or a signal from Mbappe, or PSG, in order to move for the brilliant striker, but have yet to receive one.
Earlier in the transfer window, an approximate figure of around €240 million was mentioned as a price he would be willing to consider.
The Spanish paper claim that Los Blancos would be open to discussing a deal for around €130m, given that it is likely to be only around half the cost when Mbappe’s wages are taken into account.
While Real Madrid may not have received the go-ahead to start talks, the fact that both sides have a number in mind is a positive sign for those who want to see the saga concluded.
Once the starting points are established, a road map to the end of the closing of the transfer can be drawn up.