There has been no shortage of coverage regarding the future of France and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappe over the past few years. Since winning the World Cup as a youngster, Mbappe has been sought after by the best teams in European football, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, and many others. With Mbappe finally set to leave PSG at the end of this season as a free agent, we take a look at the five players that the French champions could target to replace his influence and goals. Below are the top five Kylian Mbappe replacements on PSG’s radar this summer.
1. Son Heung-min
The Tottenham and South Korea forward is having an extremely productive season after moving to a central position under coach Ange Postcoglou. Often used on the left wing or as a second striker behind Harry Kane, Heung-min is currently the main goal-scoring threat at Spurs.
The odds of Heung-min scoring in any given game on the best online sportsbook are often very short. He is routinely the favorite to open the scoring in games, given his exceptional finishing ability.
If there is one factor that would count against Heung-min, it would be his age. At 31, he is already at the peak of his career and is likely to experience a downward trajectory in the next four or five years. Since Mbappe is a much younger player, PSG may want someone of a similar age profile to replace him.
2. Bukayo Saka
On the other end of the age spectrum, Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka is emerging as a serious option for PSG this summer. The English winger predominantly plays from the right wing, which would mean Ousmane Dembele switching to the left for PSG next season. Saka is not as regular a goalscorer as the departing Mbappe, but he is far more creative and works harder for the team off the ball.
PSG may well have the financial might to secure Saka, but they would have to put in an enormous bid to get Arsenal to consider selling. The Premier League giants are enjoying their best spell for decades and have built a young team with Saka at the very forefront. There is also no certainty that Saka would want to leave the Emirates Stadium for Paris.
3. Marcus Rashford
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is one of the more attainable options on this list for Paris Saint-Germain. The English striker is not enjoying his best campaign but was in red-hot form a year ago with the Red Devils. Rashford, who can play on the left wing or as a central striker, would offer a lot of versatility to PSG.
One weakness in Rashford’s game is how he tracks back when the opposition has the ball. However, Mbappe has never been known for working hard off the ball, which means Rashford may be the ideal person to slot into Mbappe’s position to allow PSG to maintain the same formation as this season.
4. Luis Diaz
If the Parisians are considering going in another direction for their wing recruit, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz may be an appealing option. The Colombian is not a regular goalscorer like Rashford or Mbappe, but he does have a much greater work ethic and ability to craft out chances for his teammates.
Signing Diaz to replace Mbappe would require a rethink from PSG regarding their front line. Mbappe is a primary source of goals for Luis Enrique’s team, while Diaz is not prolific. Signing him would necessitate bringing in a world-class forward who can put the ball in the back of the net with some regularity.
5. Jonathan David
The final option for PSG to replace Kylian Mbappe is Jonathan David. He is another player who would result in a slight tweak in tactics for the Parisian club, as he is primarily a center forward. While Mbappe prefers to play off the left, David is best in the penalty box. He is two-footed, good in the air, and an excellent finisher.
Given that he has already excelled in Ligue 1 with Lille for several seasons, he would be guaranteed success at PSG. While he alone cannot replace the impact of Mbappe leaving, the signing of David and a winger like Luis Diaz could turn PSG into a formidable team again.
Can PSG Win the Champions League?
The question every football fan is asking with regards to Paris Saint-Germain is whether they can lift the elusive Champions League trophy. They are still in the competition this season, albeit trailing in their quarter-final to Barcelona after the first leg.
With Mbappe only having a few weeks remaining at the club, PSG’s best chance at Champions League success may involve properly replacing him in the summer. Signing the correct player, or players, would help the club get over losing their talisman of the past few seasons. If Mbappe were to somehow lead PSG to the Champions League trophy before departing, he would be regarded as a club legend forever.
