It would possibly be the biggest transfer shock in history, but bookmakers are offering odds on PSG and France star Kylian Mbappe joining Newcastle United this summer.
After picking up his Ligue 1 Player of the Year award recently, the 20-year-old cast doubt over his future in the French capital. Speaking to the assembled audience, he said: “It is maybe the moment to have more responsibilities, maybe at PSG, with pleasure, or elsewhere for a new project. In any case – thanks everyone!”
His comments led to bookmakers offering a market on the World Cup winner's next club, with Real Madrid priced up as 2/1 favourites. Other clubs were listed, such as Manchester City and Juventus but there was no sign of Newcastle and rightly so considering that they finished 13th in the Premier League.
But the Magpies have now been added to the market by several bookmakers. Paddy Power and Betfair both have them at 50/1 to sign Mbappe, which means the bookies are giving Newcastle as good a chance as Manchester United have of buying him and makes them more likely to bring him in than Bayern Munich who are out at 80/1. Sky Bet's odds are even shorter however, indeed they are offering a price of 25/1 for the former Monaco man to move to Tyneside.
On the face of it, a move to Newcastle seems absolutely bizarre. Why would a player who is considered by most as the best young talent in world football, who has won the World Cup and could probably go to any club he wanted to, ever even consider moving to a club who have gone 50 years without winning a major trophy.
There is a reason behind it though, and it is that the Magpies are reportedly on the verge of being taken over by Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is a billionaire from the United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Khaled, who is a relative of the Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, is being represented by the Bin Zayed Group and it is thought that they have agreed to buy the club from Mike Ashley. They have now submitted proof of funds to make the purchase, and if the deal goes through it would make Newcastle United one of the richest clubs in Europe.
So with funds potentially set to significantly increase, could Rafael Benitez go out and buy the young Frenchman - who would cost well in excess of £150 million? The answer is still more than likely no.
If Mbappe does leave Paris Saint Germain then most think it will be to go to Real Madrid, not to move to St James' Park. That reality doesn't appear to have stopped the Toon faithful from getting a little excited though, with over 60% of bets in the 'Kylian Mbappe next club' market being placed on Newcastle.
Kylian Mbappe transfer odds:
(All odds taken from Sky Bet)
- Real Madrid - 2/1
- Liverpool - 14/1
- Manchester United - 20/1
- Newcastle United - 25/1
