Should Manchester City move for Monaco’s £110million-rated striker Kylian Mbappe?

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Kylian Mbappe has been the breakout teenage star of the season after some excellent performances with Champions League semi-finalists AS Monaco. It is rare for a teenager to succeed at the highest level in the modern game, but the Frenchman has scored five goals in Europe’s premier club competition, all of which have come in the knockout stage.

There are a number of clubs tracking the 18-year-old as he is on the road to becoming one of the world’s best, but The Times report that he has been valued at £110 million by his current club. This has put off Manchester City, who had recently made an inquiry about the forward’s availability.

Is he worth £110 million?

Finances in football are spiralling out of control and it is difficult to place a true value on any player at the moment. Although Mbappe is one the most exciting talents in the world, he has only played one full season and clubs will be reluctant to pay over the odds for him.

It is only a matter of time before a player is sold for over £100 million and it could be the Frenchman. However, at this present moment, City could target other top level forwards with a bigger pedigree, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, for a lower cost.

This season has been tremendous for the 18-year-old forward as he has broken into the Monaco team and played a crucial role in both their league and continental campaigns. He could finish the season with a Ligue 1 and Champions League medal, underlining the level that he is already thriving at, despite his tender age.

Across the two competitions, he has scored 18 goals and contributed five assists, with a goal involvement of one strike per 65.2 minutes, which is extraordinary.

To put this into context, it is better than Cristiano Ronaldo (84.3 minutes) and only fractionally worse than Lionel Messi (61.9 minutes). Mbappe may be playing in a weaker team and have fewer minutes this season, but this emphasises his impact in senior football. He is going to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world and whichever one opts to place faith in him with a world record bid will be rewarded.

Although his intelligent runs and cool finishing are his two most impressive attributes, Mbappe has a complete game for somebody of his age. In Ligue 1 this season, he has averaged 3.3 shots, 1.6 chances created and 1.33 successful take ons per ninety minutes.

The Frenchman is excellent at beating an opposition defender, using his close ball control combined with his pace and agility. He rarely misses the target, with an incredible shot accuracy of 74% in the league. Considering his age and lack of experience prior to this season, Mbappe has adapted quickly to the senior game and his self-belief is there for all to see.

Should a Premier League club buy him?

The best two players of the current era are both plying their trade in La Liga. Despite the Premier League’s reputation as the best league in the world, the best players are elsewhere and that needs to change if English clubs are to seriously challenge in the Champions League on a regular basis.

Mbappe may have a huge price tag on his head, but he has over a decade ahead of him at the highest level and he would more than repay the money if he continues to develop at his current rate. There is a chance that he could become the best in the world and it will be near impossible to attain him after leaving Monaco.

His impressive mentality and confidence in his abilities have allowed him to get this far. It is difficult to see him lose focus in his game and for that reason, he is worth the risk. If Manchester City or another Premier League club chooses to buy him, it would send out a huge statement.

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