The Parisians may be losing a club legend, but they have plenty of options as they look to spend the surplus cash he'll leave behind
Kylian Mbappe's departure is not a good thing for Paris Saint-Germain. They will lose the club's all-time leading goalscorer, a global superstar, and the face of French football.
However, there is some solace to be found in the money that they can now spend to flesh out the side. With Mbappe's astronomical salary off the books, the Parisians are ready to spend big this summer in an ambitious rebuilding mission. Transfer guru reported that they are after a top-tier attacking player, midfielder, and perhaps a long-term centre-back replacement for Marquinhos.
As such, the rumour mill has immediately gone into overdrive, and so who are the players PSG are likely to be targeting once the transfer window opens this summer as they move on from Mbappe? GOAL breaks down 11 top options…
Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford (Manchester United)
We've been here before on more than one occasion. PSG's interest in Rashford has simmered away for years now, the Parisians having repeatedly shown interest in signing Manchester United's left-sided forward.
There is a sense that for all of his quality, Rashford has been rather held back by his club. United are too chaotic, too turbulent for individuals to truly thrive. And although the now-completed partial takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems poised to bring in a sense of stability, Rashford may not be able to hit his best levels for the Red Devils.
PSG would seem a promising exit route. With Mbappe gone, Rashford would take over the mantle of being , while Luis Enrique's direct, counter-attacking football suits Rashford, who is at his best running in behind and taking on defenders in transition.
For all of the tactical sentiment, though, a Rashford exit from Old Trafford seems unlikely. He is, after all, United through and through, and less than 12 months removed from signing a bumper new contract. Despite his inconsistent form in 2023-24, it's improbable that the glitz of Paris turns his head.
Advertisement(C)GettyImagesRafael Leao (AC Milan)
The reports linking them with Rashford suggest that PSG want a direct replacement for Mbappe, and in truth, Leao seems much more suited to such a role. The Milan star is not quite the same player as Mbappe; he's taller, more powerful, and a better passer.
They do, however, share some similar traits. Both are excellent ball carriers, eager to take on a man, and thrive when they have space to run into. And at 24, Leao still has plenty of development to come.
There are some concerns that have to be taken into consideration. Leao is a good goalscorer, but he's never netted more than 20 in a season. His ability to play against the kind of low blocks that PSG routinely face is also not quite clear.
Still, if the idea is for PSG to sign a marquee left-sided forward who can replicate the kind of influence that Mbappe had, then Leao might be that man.
GettyVictor Osimhen (Napoli)
Osimhen is leaving Napoli at the end of the season – this much we know. The question is, where does he go? Chelsea and Arsenal seem to be the duelling favourites, two sides with a clear need for a No.9, and Osimhen is the best on the market.
But PSG can simply never be counted out. There have been some scattered links with Osimhen already, with one of those to have reported that the Parisians are in the mix for his signature. It helps that football advisor Luis Campos once signed Osimhen when he was in a similar role at Lille.
The tactical fit is an imperfect one. Osimhen is best used as a central striker, and has all of the traits of a dominant modern No.9. His arrival would certainly seem to clash with the signings of Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani – two big-money arrivals for the Parisians last summer who haven't quite hit the heights yet.
But if PSG want the best goalscorer out there to replace Mbappe, Osimhen is their man.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesKvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
Since we're on the topic of Napoli… Kvaratskhelia was the biggest surprise in European football last year, a largely unknown Georgian winger who became one of the most dominant players in the world at his position. He was a focal point of Napoli's remarkable title-winning season, proving to be an able goalscorer and devastating creator for a fluid attack.
Naturally, exit talk started by the end of the season, and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid move for some time. PSG, though, appears to be a more natural fit if Kvaratskhelia is to leave Italy.
The Parisians need a left-winger, and Kvaratskhelia is one of the best out there. Napoli will certainly be reluctant to sell, as they are set to lose Osimhen this summer, and won't want to see their other big-name attacker leave. But with PSG's money, and the lure of a starring role, this one could happen.