The Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid transfer saga continues to intensify and grow over the last few days. Naseer Al-Khelaifi, Paris Saint-Germain’s president, shared his thoughts on the transfer rumours recently and even claimed that PSG has more to offer to Mbappe. Kylian Mbappe also chipped in with his thoughts over the rumours: “I’m at a place that I like, but is it the best place for me? I still don’t have the answer.” quote via Marca.
Well, it looks like this possible transfer is going to run down to the wire. Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to offer the most attractive pitch to Mbappe with an impressive sporting project and lucrative financial incentives for him to renew. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will look to raise funds as soon as possible to expedite the negotiations with the player’s agent and PSG to sign him this summer.
In light of that, I have come up with a list of certain players that Real Madrid can sell this summer transfer window to raise sufficient funds in an attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe. We will be looking at each player’s market value, estimated transfer fee, contract status and wages.
The objective will be to raise at least 150 million euros through player sales ( transfer fee+ wages). Let’s have a look at three players that can help us achieve this objective.
RAPHAEL VARANE
As per El Confidencial, Raphael Varane wants a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer transfer market and PSG are willing to pay as much as 60 million euros in their quest for the Frenchman. Varane’s contract expires next summer and the idea at the Spanish capital is to cash in on him straight away after the player has shown little to no interest in renewing terms.
With that being said, if Los Blancos manage to offload Varane this summer to Paris Saint-Germain. The club will accumulate a total of 68.40 million euros after receiving the transfer fee and clearing off his wages from the payroll.
Market value- 80 million euros, Estimated transfer fee- 60 million euros, Wages- 8.40 million euros per year.
Total funds raised- 68.40 million euros
LUKA JOVIC
Luka Jovic could be one of those unfortunate players who could be sacrificed this summer to make way for Kylian Mbappe. The Serbian struggled in his one and half-season spell at Real Madrid and was loaned out earlier in January to his former club Eintracht Frankfurt. While Zinedine Zidane clearly did not have Jovic in his plans, there’s no certainty whether Carlo Ancelotti would either.
On that note, Jovic also earns a huge package each year from the club which in hindsight is a massive disparity between the amount he earns and his role in the squad. Currently, the 23-year-old earns 10 million euros a year and is unlikely to have a future at the club given the intense competition by Karim Benzema. The only option seems like a permanent transfer or another loan move which seems unlikely.
Los Blancos will look to sell the Serbian international to Eintracht Frankfurt this summer. The Eagles consider signing Jovic permanently as their breakout star, Andre Silva, has been tipped to make an exit. Having said that, a transfer fee of around 40 million euros would be ideal and realistic for the 23-year-old.
Real Madrid will end up saving 50 million euros if they sell Jovic (transfer fee+ wages)
Estimated transfer fee- 40 million euros, Wages- 10 million euros.
Total funds raised so far= 108 million euros
GARETH BALE
There’s been a lot of talk lately about Gareth Bale and a last dance at Real Madrid following the reappointment of Carlo Ancelotti. I even covered an article on the same on how Ancelotti’s appointment could be a lifeline for Bale.
However, as much as Ancelotti might want Bale to be part of his plans for next season, the club might be forced into selling the Welshman in an attempt to balance the books. Currently, the 31-year-old is the second-highest-paid player at the club- earning 21 million euros a year.
Gareth Bale has proven his quality this season with Tottenham Hotspur and if he manages to have a decent individual campaign with Wales in the EUROS, Real Madrid will look to cash in on this opportunity as his contract runs out in 2022.
In light of that, I believe Gareth Bale can be sold to his former club Tottenham for approximately 15 million euros if he has a decent campaign with Wales. Apart from Spurs, there does not seem to be any other suitors for the Welshman and Tottenham are the only option Los Blancos have at the moment.
So if Bale is sold for 15 million euros this summer, Real Madrid will end up saving 36 million euros ( transfer fee+ wages).
Estimated transfer fee- 15 million euros, Wages- 21 million euros
Total funds raised so far= 144 million euros.
ISCO
Isco is another player who could be sold this summer. The Spaniard who was once Zinedine Zidane’s favourite midfielder has now lost all importance in the squad and has fallen down the pecking order. Los Blancos have the perfect replacement to Isco in the shape of Martin Odegaard.
Carlo Ancelotti’s reappointment has sparked a little hope in Isco’s career as the Italian used the 29-year-old the most during his initial two-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, the Isco back then was a recent Golden Boy winner and was electrifying with the ball on his feet. The current Isco is a mere shadow of his past form.
The club will look to sell Isco this summer but an offer could be hard to come by given the player’s rapid decline over the years and because of the pandemic. On that note, Real Madrid can possibly offload the 29-year-old for 10 million euros and write off his 6.80 million euros salary.
The objective of raising 150 million euros to match PSG’s transfer price for Mbappe has been matched if Real Madrid offloads these four players in the summer.
Expected transfer fee- 10 million euros, Wages- 6.80 million euros
Total funds raised so far- 160.8 million euros