The biggest story of the summer transfer window could revolve around Kylian Mbappe.
The France striker could be on his way out of Real Madrid this summer, following a tumultuous season at the Santiago Bernabeu, in which the Spanish giants have gone trophy-less.
Mbappe has earned the ire of the Madrid fans in recent weeks after he was pictured on holiday while he was recovering from an injury, which kept him out of action for a couple of matches.
The trip was authorised by the club, but it did little to deter the fans from jeering him when he was a 69th minute substitute in the win over Real Oviedo.
Is Kylian Mbappe really the fourth choice striker at Real Madrid?
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe claimed it was not just down to injury that he was kept out of the Real Madrid team, saying he was "fourth-choice" striker at the club under interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa.
That was refuted by Arbeloa - and let's be honest a laughable suggestion - but relations between Mbappe and Real are clearly strained and it will now be up to Jose Mourinho to iron out the differences and get Mbappe back onside, following the confirmation that the Portuguese would be returning to the club.
If Mbappe and/or Mourinho cannot come to a resolution, it may be that the Frenchman leaves the Bernabeu this summer and there will be no shortage of suitors for his signature.
There is little doubt that Mbappe is one of the best players in the world, often spoken about in the same conversation as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when they were at the height of their powers, and every club in Europe's top five leagues would be interested in signing him, should the opportunity arise.
Arsenal famously came close to signing him in 2016 and 2017 when Arsene Wenger was in charge, with Mbappe instead choosing Paris Saint-Germain when leaving AS Monaco.
Speaking about that missed deal, Mbappe said: "Wenger is a French football monument. A little while ago, before I signed for PSG, we were in contact in 2017. I chose a different direction but he wasn’t annoyed at me.
“He was a gentleman about it and wished me good luck.”
Arsenal will naturally be linked with a move for the 27-year-old again, given their need to strengthen in forward areas, but they will likely face competition from a number of other Premier League clubs and London rivals Chelsea may just have been given the upper hand in any deal.
Joao Pedro has made the No.9 spot his own this season, with 15 goals and eight assists in 34 top flight appearances, but Liam Delap has struggled, while Chelsea are keen to offload Nicolas Jackson following his loan spell with Bayern Munich. Reinforcements in attacking areas will be required and the Blues now have a manager who can help them sign Mbappe.
Chelsea have major advantage when it comes to signing Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham Footage Goes Viral After Real Madrid Boos
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham Footage Goes Viral After Real Madrid Boos
Chelsea announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso as new manager for the 2026/27 season over the weekend, with Alonso signing a four-year deal.
Alonso had an ill-fated spell as manager of Real Madrid at the start of this season and enjoyed a "good relationship" with superstar Mbappe.
Speaking after the win over Oviedo, in which Mbappe grabbed an assist after coming off the bench, Mbappe said: "We had a structure in our game and we lost it - that hurts a lot. I had a great relationship with Xabi Alonso. He is going to become a great coach, but that is now in the past. We have to look forward."
If Alonso wants to make a splash at Stamford Bridge, reuniting with Mbappe would be a clear statement of intent.
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