PSG may off-load nine players to keep Mbappe for new deal

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly set to try to axe nine players from their squad in order to free up funds for a huge new contract for Kylian Mbappe.

The French giants have a massively overblown first-team squad which consists of a ludicrous 39 players.

And according to Marca, the club are now trying to significantly reduce the number of players on their books to give themselves the best possible chance of keeping Mbappe.

Mbappe, 22, has been continually linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.

The French forward’s current deal with PSG expires at the end of next season, so they are keen to tie him down to avoid a free transfer in 12 months time.

And in order to make a huge Mbappe contract financially viable, the likes of Mauro Icardi and Idrissa Gueye may well be sold.

Icardi, 28, joined from Inter Milan in 2019 after initially being linked with Juventus.

There is believed to be a clause in that package that means PSG would have to cough up around £12m to the San Siro club should they offload Argentina forward to another Serie A side.

That was allegedly to try and prevent a future move to Juventus – but the speculation of their interest in him has never gone away.

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Now L’Equipe says Juve are considering offering Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, to the French club to try and bring Icardi to Turin.

This report comes days after Juve insisted Ronaldo has given no indication he wants to leave and that they expect him back for training this month.

Another position that could be culled is in between the sticks.

PSG have found themselves lumbered with nine keepers ahead of the upcoming Ligue 1 campaign.

Along with Gianluigi Donarumma and Keylor Navas, they have Alphonse Arreola, Marcin Bulka, Denis Franchi, Sergio Rico, Alexndre Letellier, Garrisone Innocent and Lucas Lavellee all vying for the spot of No1.