Forget the money – why City need to sign Kylian Mbappe

Manchester City have spent quite a bit this summer already, but here’s why they need to throw caution to the wind and go all in on Monaco phenom Kylian Mbappe.

There’s that old adage “you get what you pay for” ringing around in my head. Usually I read it with my late grandmother’s stern voice, complete with finger wagging, pointed in my direction as a result of some ill-advised purchase that has disintegrated before the day was out. I can’t wait to subject my grandkids to the same. For paying professionals, however, today we tend to say “if you pay peanuts, you hire monkeys”.

Both have an element of truth to them and, when it comes to football, both are doubtless playing endlessly in the minds of Pep Guardiola and the hierarchy at Manchester City. You’ve probably heard they are spending a bit on transfers this summer, yes?

Director of football Txiki Begiristain has signed off on a combined fee north of £200m already to bring in top class talent such as Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy, you’d think that’s them pretty much done for this window, right?

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Apparently not. Even with all the uproar, mostly from United fans it must be said, over the “outrageous” spend by the Blues and the perceived lack of modesty and/or self-respect by Pep, it would appear more players are expected through the door at the Etihad by the time August is out.

For some time Kylian Mbappe, much like every Monaco player, has been linked to a move to City. Indeed, it was widely reported that the club made a move for him last summer for a modest £30m which was sagely rejected. The now-18 year old didn’t have much experience then and was mostly promise, oft-cited to have a similar tool set as fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry, so presented a gamble for Monaco to keep with such a relative offer.

The gamble paid off, one season and 24 goals/8 assists in 26 appearances, including 6 goals in 6 starts in the Champions League, and suddenly Mbappe is the most sought-after name in football and expected to command a world record fee. Not just any world record fee either, try almost double the current one at an expected £140m+. I’m pretty sure even my gran would pause at that one.

Even so, City absolutely, positively, have to go all in on Mbappe. Forget the adages, the kid is the real deal and has proven himself on the big stage at an age which indicates that he’s much, much more than potential. He’s a once-in-a-generation striker that simply isn’t available every other year. If the rumours are to be believed, Real Madrid would consider shipping off former-world transfer record signing Gareth Bale to fund a run on Mbappe. Clearly Monaco want to sell, and the player wants to move to the next stage, and it’s now or never.

That’s the thinking at least, but it’s not without caveats. If ever there was a team as flush with attacking options as they are with cash it’s Manchester City. What about Gabriel Jesus? Or Leroy Sane? Raheem Sterling? Or Kelechi Iheanacho? Aren’t they still interested in Alexis Sanchez too? So many potential options there alone, and that’s without mentioning the elephant in the room – Sergio Aguero.

How many times must Kun deny he’s off this summer before pundits accept it? But if City did bring in Mbappe, such stories would gain a lot of credibility. Remember, Aguero himself brought his own future into question by raising the alarm about how long he would be at the club following a mere two games benched in favour of Jesus. Bring in Mbappe too and you’d have to imagine a centre-forward of Sergio’s calibre would be off.

Further, even for a club like City such a major window spend would potentially tie their hands for future acquisitions and with an untested defence, lacking a solid option to partner John Stones at centre back for the future, you’d have to wonder if Pep can afford to take such a risk. But risk it he should and, while losing Kun would be a bitter pill for most to swallow, ultimately the reward of Ballon d’Or in the making is one impossible not to pursue.

Next: Manchester City part ways with talented winger

Whether or not Guardiola signs off on a run for Mbappe, or if the player would even come to City, is anyone’s guess. Rumours indicate that City are certainly in on him, but Mbappe is a boyhood Madrid fan and Zinedine Zidane is his favourite player of all time. In the end though, the Blues should push for him to the end and if they don’t sign him, well, at least they tried. That’s the problem with the adage “you get what you pay for” though, as Mastercard reminds us, there’s some things money simply can’t buy.