Real Madrid ‘fear it will be harder to get Kylian Mbappe out of PSG after Thomas Tuchel’s departure’… and they’re set to lose out on top target Paris-bound Mauricio Pochettino!
- Real Madrid are hoping to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG next summer
- But Thomas Tuchel’s departure now makes him more likely to sign a new deal
- The duo endured a frosty relationship at best at the Parc des Princes
- Madrid may have to pay up to £225m for Mbappe should he agree new deal
- Bernabeu outfit were also hoping to land Mauricio Pochettino as a future boss
- But the former Tottenham manager could now also commit to the Paris-outfit
Real Madrid have suffered a double blow with two pieces of their plans looking likelier to commit their future to Paris Saint-Germain.
Kylian Mbappe is a target for Madrid to try and lure away from PSG next summer, while Mauricio Pochettino was being lined up as a successor for Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu should the Frenchman make a departure in the near future.
But Thomas Tuchel’s sacking on Christmas Eve following PSG’s 4-0 win over Strasbourg on Wednesday has now thrown both plans into chaos.
Kylian Mbappe could now extend his Paris Saint-Germain contract beyond the summer of 2022
Mbappe endured a frosty relationship with manager Thomas Tuchel who was sacked by the Parisian club on Christmas Eve
According to AS, Tuchel’s sacking means Mbappe is now more likely to agree a new contract with the Paris club, with the striker’s relationship with the German manager having been frosty at best in recent times despite them reaching the Champions League final in the summer.
Reports in France even claimed that sporting director Leonardo had to arrange ‘clear the air’ talks between the pair to at least keep their professional relationship in tact.
Madrid were hoping a stall in Mbappe’s contract extension, which runs until 2022, would allow them to move and sign the 22-year-old for a fee of around £160million.
However should Mbappe sign a new deal, even with a pro-Madrid release clause, any potential move could see them having to pay up to £225m.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez (above) had identified Mauricio Pochettino as a potential replacement for Zinedine Zidane as the team’s manager
But Pochettino (left) now also looks set to commit his future to PSG, leaving headaches for Real in terms of finding a suitable successor for Zidane (right)
Another headache for Madrid to deal with is the potential arrival of Pochettino in the Paris dugout, who AS claim would only take the job providing Mbappe is not sold.
Before being caught cold by Tuchel’s sacking, Madrid president Florentino Perez was hoping to line up the former Tottenham manager as a successor to Zidane.
The former Spurs boss who has been out of work since being sacked at White Hart Lane 13 months ago had been targeted as the ideal transitional boss while Los Blancos groom club legend and former striker Raul as a future manager.
Raul, who scored 323 goals from 741 games between 1994 and 2010 for Real currently coaches their B team.
The Spanish side eventually hope to give club legend and B team boss Raul the hotseat
