As one possible mega-move closes down, the potential for another one opens up. Harry Kane’s mooted $200 million transfer from Tottenham to Manchester City may be off, but with less than a week until the summer window shuts, there is suddenly the possibility of Kylian Mbappé leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid for a similar fee.
Real Madrid made a bid of €160 million ($188 million) Tuesday, which was rejected by PSG, as Madrid must have known it would be. The question is whether that was a statement of intent, an assertion from Madrid’s president Florentino Pérez of his own enduring might, or whether it is serious and will be backed up by a bid large enough that PSG would be prepared to accept it.