Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Manchester City ready bid to beat Real Madrid to Kylian Mbappe - sources

Manchester City are making a late bid to try to complete a world-record transfer for Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe, sources have told ESPN FC.

City are moving quickly to seal a potential £160 million (€180m) move for the 18-year-old France international with Real Madrid also desperate to conclude a deal.

Spanish newspaper Marca has reported that Real and Monaco have an agreement in principle at that price for the teenager.

But City are prepared to match any offer and any deal for the French star is certain to break the world record £89m spent by Manchester United for Paul Pogba last summer.

Mbappe has become the most sought-after striker in Europe after a brilliant season with Monaco, which saw them win the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 17 years and reach the semifinals of the Champions League.

Sources have told ESPN FC that City are ready to offer assurances that he will feature regularly despite the wealth of attacking options at the Etihad Stadium with Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling all fighting for a starting place.

However, ahead of his team's International Champions Cup match against Real Madrid in Los Angeles on Wednesday, manager Pep Guardiola would not be drawn out on the subject.

"We have two exceptional forwards so we will see," Guardiola said. "The market, unfortunately, finishes on August 31, which is not good for the managers. We will see what happens. Maybe we are going to do something or not. We will see.

"They [Sanchez and Mbappe] are Arsenal and Monaco players so there is nothing to say.

"The player [Mbappe] is in Monaco and he is still on that team."

City have already signed Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy from Monaco, which could sway Mbappe's final decision if he has a choice between the two clubs.

Real have already sold Alvaro Morata to Chelsea and Danilo to City this summer to fund a move for Mbappe, and manager Zinedine Zidane admits they need a new striker.

But City are ready to move now despite spending more than £200m on new signings already this season. Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Mbappe.

On Thursday, Monaco has threatened to report any club that make an approach for Mbappe without their permission.

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