Man Utd 'accelerate plans to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG'

It has been claimed that Manchester United are lining up Paris Saint Germain and France forward Kylian Mbappe to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's second spell with United appears on the verge of its conclusion after an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he, among other things, claimed they 'betrayed' him, took aim at former team-mates and said the club's owners do not care about the football side of the business.

According to The Mirror, replacements are already being sounded out with Mbappe, improbably perhaps, having been identified as a shock January target.

The Frenchman has endured something of a tough season with Paris Saint Germain this term after signing a record-breaking contract during the summer to keep him at the club for a further three years.

Reports in October suggested that Mbappe had lost patience with manager Christoph Galtier who was not playing him in his preferred position off the left-hand side, instead choosing to deploy him centrally.

Despite this, relations appear to have been mended somewhat in recent weeks and PSG's investment in the Parisian native during the summer is unlikely to see them let him go the next year, let alone within the next six months.

Neymar and Lionel Messi, 30 and 35, respectively, have both shone in the first half of this campaign but question marks remain over their overall commitment to the PSG project beyond this year.

It is claimed within The Mirror report that Mbappe would cost upwards of £150m, with United possessing the financial might to sign the player.

Meanwhile, it is said that United are one of few clubs around Europe able to match Mbappe's astronomical wage demands - which are said to total around £500,000 a week.

More attainable January targets include Victor Osmihen, the Napoli centre-forward who has enjoyed a stellar start to the season with the Italian club only losing one game - away at Liverpool in the Champions League - all season.

United can allegedly be encouraged by their Premier League rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City, not being in the market for a forward next year with both having spent on the position in the summer just gone.

Were Mbappe to depart PSG, however, it seems unlikely that it would be for anywhere else but the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid were shocked when he told them that he had decided to remain in Paris for the next three years - at least - with Florentino Perez having been certain that they would land the Frenchman.

'In Paris, the page is completely blank. What an opportunity! You have to think differently. Of course, it was easier to go to Madrid,' Mbappe said upon signing his new deal with PSG in the summer.

'But I have this ambition. I'm French. I'm a child of Paris, and to win in Paris, it's something really special — really special. It writes your name in the history of your country for life.'