While PSG might offload some unwanted cargo on LaLiga, there is zero chance of an earth-shattering move for Kylian Mbappe – here are 5 transfer predictions
With less than a week till the closing of the summer transfer market window, teams are still scrambling for that last addition which might help elevate the squad’s performance. August 31st is the deadline and these are the five highest-profile deals that could be signed in the remaining days.
Mariano (from Olympique Lyon to Sevilla)
Pablo Machín and Sevilla have been scouting the market and looking for a striker who will be the icing on the cake for a very balanced squad. Rumours swirled around a few days ago talking about PSG’s Julian Draxler, but the rumblings fell quiet very quickly.
Another name in the French League, however, seems to be gaining credit: former Real Madrid and current Lyon forward Mariano Díaz. In fact, Sevilla already reportedly have a deal with the player for a five-year contract, and are now ready to offer up to $45 million for a striker which Olympique bought one-year-ago for ‘only’ $10 million.
Adrien Rabiot (from PSG to Barcelona)
Ernesto Valverde likes the French midfielder *a lot*, but Barça are focused on closing selling deals and getting rid of players such as Paco Alcacer (en route to Germany’s Borussia Dortmund) or Rafinha. That’s their top priority right now and they don’t want to lose focus.
Nevertheless, their interest in Adrien Rabiot hasn’t gone away after failing to sign him last month. The burnt bridge between PSG and the Culés after Neymar’s 2017 drama seems to have been rebuilt thanks to Eric Abidal’s suave approach. Also, Barça got a slight ‘win’ by securing Ivan Rakitic’s loyalty, as the midfielder stated this weekend that he will stay in Barcelona because he’s “happy” at the club. Will the Blaugranas make another attempt to buy Rabiot before August 31st? Valverde surely hopes so.
Gonzalo Guedes (from PSG to Valencia)
One of this summer’s biggest and longest soap operas is about to finish. Since he landed in Valencia on loan one-year-ago, Gonçalo Guedes made quite an impact and convinced owner, Peter Lim, that he had to sign him permanently. It was October 2017 and the tycoon had already made his mind up.
Fast-forward 10 months and here we are: Valencia have been keen on taking every chance of luring the player in. The winger is already on board; only PSG remains to be persuaded. One last push by the Bats by increasing their $47 million offer could allow them to overcome the last obstacle to snatch one of the most promising young players in Europe.
Rodrigo (from Valencia CF to Real Madrid)
A few days ago, one of Spain’s biggest sport outlets marveled their readers with a spectacular front page which literally read: “Real say they don’t want to buy him. Valencia insist they don’t want to sell him. Marcelino states he’s a crucial player. The player confirms he wants to stay at Mestalla. His buyout clause is $140 million. The uncanny Rodrigo affair”.
#LaPortada El insólito caso Rodrigo ?️ pic.twitter.com/NGfXYbPXsJ
— MARCA (@marca) August 21, 2018
No, we’re actually not kidding. A front page stating and explaining that ‘news’ is not news at all. There will always be the chance of Real Madrid splurging the $140 million in a desperate last-minute attempt to woo the player… but it doesn’t seem likely, at this point. No news will be good news. For Valencia, anyway.
Kylian Mbappé (from PSG to Real Madrid)
Okay guys, this is definitely not going to happen.
And yet…
If we list all the impossible hurdles that Real would need to overcome in order to complete this transfer, we could write a cool 10 or 12 think-pieces. There’s absolutely no way Mbappé, one of the best in the world and biggest surprise of the World Cup’s champions this summer, will land in the Bernabeu Stadium this summer. A megaton buyout clause, Neymar Jr. being ‘cooler’ in Florentino Pérez’s opinion, PSG’s economic power and resources…
But outlets keep buzzing about the possibility, probably to sell one or two more newspapers and squeeze the topic out to the last drop. But that’s not our style: we’re not going to ‘pull off a Marca’ in this dojo. So, no: Mbappé won’t be a Madridista this year.
