La Liga giants Real Madrid are confident of roping in Monaco teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe for a world-record £161million transfer fee.
Real Madrid bosses have been negotiating a deal for the past month and now they have agreed terms with the Ligue 1 club and the French striker, according to reports.
The La Liga and Champions League double winners expect to complete the signing in the next two weeks with the £91.5m in the bank, having offloaded Alvaro Morata to Chelsea and Danilo, who is set to join Manchester City in the next 24 hours.
President Florentino Perez had vowed to make a Galactico signing, and now he is under pressure to live up to his promise.
He could have roped in the 18-year-old striker much earlier this summer, but there has been a delay in the potential transfer as Real’s creditors had made it clear that the club must offload players before breaking the bank for the Monaco teenage sensation.
FootTheBall sources reveal that Benzema could move the other way as a part of a swap and cash deal for the Monaco striker.
Earlier, Monaco had made it clear that they do not want to sell Mbappe this summer and had released a statement condemning several top-flight European clubs for illegally approaching Kylian Mbappe and his entourage.
ALSO READ: Monaco Threaten Kylian Mbappe Suitors With Fifa Action For Tapping Up Teenage Sensation
However, SkySports claimed that Monaco’s complaints relate to moves from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain – but not Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Monaco have no reasons to offload their prized asset as they are in a comfortable position financially after selling Bernardo Silva to Manchester City and Bakayoko To Chelsea this summer.
Sources also claimed that the Ligue 1 club are looking forward to tie down Mbappe on a new deal which will include a hiked wage packet and a staggering release clause.
However, Mbappe’s desire to make a switch to Real Madrid to play under his childhood idol Zinedine Zidane and a world-record 120million transfer fee up on the plate have forced Monaco to change their mind.
Real boss Zidane has heaped praise on the Monaco starlet. He said: “He’s a very good player. His talent at 18 years and his personality is very good.
“As a player, I like everything he showed last year. He’s not my player so I can’t say more.”
Mbappe has drawn huge attention and is under the radar of top-flight European clubs after displaying form last season.
The French teenage sensation guided Monaco to Ligue 1 triumph and also to the semi-final of the Champions League – with26 goals to his name in all competitions.
Mbappe’s incredible form for Monaco has also earned him a place in the France national team and he has left no stone unturned to prove his mettle in the international circuit as well.
