Chelsea reportedly have no plans to pursue a deal Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe this summer.
The French champions could try to offload the 24-year-old in the coming weeks after he informed the club that he would not be extending his contract beyond the end of next season.
Mbappe was widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer last year, but he surprised the footballing landscape by committing to PSG until 2024 with a 12-month option.
The France international has since claimed that PSG have known about his plans not to extend since last July, while also affirming that he has "never" been involved in discussions with the club over a renewal.
With PSG therefore at risk of losing Mbappe on a free transfer in 2024, Les Parisiens are expected to try to offload him this summer, in spite of the fact that the striker has confirmed his desire to see out the final year of his contract.
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While Manchester United and Real Madrid are regarded as Mbappe's two most likely destinations, The Times has claimed that Chelsea are also hoping to take advantage of the situation.
The Blues have lacked a prolific number nine for the past couple of years, and Todd Boehly was therefore hoping to lure Mbappe to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer in 2024.
However, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Chelsea will not try to sign Mbappe this summer, despite previous interest in his services.
Whether Mbappe will eventually become available on a free transfer next year remains to be seen, and it is unclear if the Blues would weigh up a move for the attacker at the end of next season.
Amid persistent rumours regarding his future, Mbappe remains an indispensable member of PSG's attack with 41 goals and 10 assists from 43 matches last season.
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The ex-Monaco starlet became Les Parisiens' highest goalscorer of all time in March, netting in a 4-2 win over Nantes to surpass Edinson Cavani's 200 strikes for the club.
Mbappe won a fifth Ligue 1 Golden Boot with 29 strikes from 34 league outings in 2022-23, and the Frenchman now boasts a total of 212 goals and 98 assists from 260 matches for PSG in all tournaments.
While a move for Mbappe may be off the cards for now, Chelsea will be in the market for a new striker this summer in order to address their goalscoring woes, having only finished 11th in the Premier League last season.
Serie A-based attackers in Dusan Vlahovic, Victor Osimhen and Lautaro Martinez have all been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, where Romelu Lukaku is due to return to next season after his loan spell at Inter Milan.
Both Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are thought to be in talks over moves to Saudi Arabia, though, while Kai Havertz was allegedly a target for Real Madrid, but Los Blancos have now ended their interest in the German.
