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Manchester City 'rule out summer approach for Kylian Mbappe'

By Carter White | 28 July 2023

Man City 'rule out summer approach for Kylian Mbappe'

Manchester City are reportedly not willing to enter the race for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe, with the Citizens focusing on securing other targets.

Manchester City are reportedly not prepared to enter the race for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe, with the Citizens prioritising other signings this summer.

Pep Guardiola's men won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the 2022-23 season, completing a historic treble and ending the club's long wait for European glory in the process.

With Mbappe helping PSG to another Ligue 1 title in France, Erling Haaland rocked up at the Etihad last summer, and the Norwegian's 36 Premier League goals catapulted City towards a third-straight domestic crown.

The Citizens now have the monumental task of attempting to emulate such a successful campaign in 2023-24, although the champions of England and Europe are not planning to sign PSG's star man to help them in that quest.

According to The Athletic, Manchester City are not looking to enter the race for Mbappe's services this summer, despite being massive admirers of the 2018 World Cup winner.

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring on April 21, 2023 © Reuters

The report claims that Man City are possibly the only side in the Premier League who could afford to sign the 24-year-old, however the club are not currently aiming to lure the player to England.

It is understood that the Citizens have their recruitment focus elsewhere after seeing a host of key first-team players leave the club following the conclusion of their treble-winning 2022-23 term.

Ilkay Gundogan was the first high-profile man to leave Guardiola's squad this summer, with the German moving to La Liga champions Barcelona at the expiration of his contract in Manchester.

The up-and-coming Saudi Pro League have also benefited from a City star seeking pastures new, with Al-Ahli securing the services of winger Riyad Mahrez for a fee of around £30m.

Al-Hilal have reportedly had a £257m bid for Mbappe accepted by PSG, however the Frenchman is not keen on a move to the Middle East, meaning that he is refusing to enter discussions over personal terms with the Saudi club.

England's Jude Bellingham in action with France's Kylian Mbappe on December 10, 2022 © Reuters

It was been widely suggested that the attacker has his heart set on a switch to Real Madrid next summer, with Mbappe supposedly willing to sit on Les Parisiens' bench for the entirety of the 2023-24 term in order to run down his contract in the French capital.

Los Blancos tried to sign Mbappe when he was breaking through at Monaco and the Spanish giants remain extremely keen, however Carlo Ancelotti's side are not in the position to buy the player out of his contract in France after spending an initial £88.5m on Jude Bellingham earlier this summer.

After the forward signalled that he would not be putting pen to paper on fresh terms at Parc des Princes, PSG have excluded the 24-year-old from their pre-season squad as they look to offload him before the window slams shut.

Man City will be looking to earn a record-breaking fourth-straight Premier League title next season, and their pre-season preparations continue on Sunday when they face Atletico Madrid in a friendly.