EXCLUSIVE
Monaco are doing their utmost to price Kylian Mbappe out of a summer transfer in an attempt to get the 18-year-old striker to sign a contract extension.
Jardim wants 'no fear' from Monaco
The teenager, who has exploded onto the scene with a series of blistering displays in recent months by netting a staggering 24 goals in 40 outings for Leonardo Jardim’s side this term, has attracted interest from virtually all of Europe’s biggest sides.
Although Monaco have slapped a price tag on the youngster of upwards of £100 million, Goal understands that their position is not as strong as their bullish stance in the media portrays.
Mbappe, who had scored in four successive Champions League knockout matches before last week’s defeat to Juventus, only has two years left on his current deal and the Ligue 1 leaders are fighting hard to get the teenager to commit his future to the club in an attempt to increase his transfer value in the future.
As a result, they are attempting to scare teams away with an exorbitant valuation, aware that their publicised price for the France international is unrealistic.
Financially, they are under no obligation to sell, with others expected to leave for substantial fees. Among these players is Gil Dias, who has spent the season on loan at Rio Ave but is set to depart to Benfica for a price in the region of €12-15m - more than twice what Monaco paid for him in 2015.
Reports in Spain suggested that Mbappe is ready to move to Real Madrid, but they are currently off the mark.
Allegri fears 'dangerous' Monaco
Indeed, the youngster is genuinely torn as to whether he should remain at Stade Louis II for one more season or depart in the summer. Publicly, the striker has said he will not make any decision before the end of the season, and he intends to honour those words.
With the World Cup in Russia to come in 2018, football’s hottest property is aware that any move comes with an element of risk attached.
In the meantime, he is expected to lead Monaco’s line along with Radamel Falcao as the principality side attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Juventus in Turin on Tuesday evening.