Topics: Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain, Transfers, La Liga, Ligue 1
Jude Bellingham has provided the blueprint for how Real Madrid could finally sign Kylian Mbappe in January.
Real Madrid have failed to sign Mbappe on three separate occasions after going all out for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar.
After initially failing to sign him as a youngster before his move to Monaco, Madrid renewed their interest in the France international in 2017 - only to be pipped again by PSG.
Real Madrid returned for Mbappe in 2021 and had several bids, including a huge £189m offer, rejected by PSG for the striker, who later signed a new contract at the Parc des Princes rather than leaving on a free at the end of his previous deal.
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His latest contract is due to expire in the summer, with Mbappe free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1.
As a result, next month could be the final opportunity for PSG to recoup a transfer fee on Mbappe, should he decide to turn down the offer of a new deal in Paris.
The Athletic claim Real Madrid will make a fresh attempt to sign Mbappe next month but have set a deadline for mid-January for the PSG star to decide his next move.
It is claimed that the feeling at PSG is that Mbappe could extend his stay in Paris rather than seek a move elsewhere.
"Some in Paris do not think that Real Madrid will offer Mbappe the financial package he wants," added the report.
It adds that Mbappe "would expect to arrive on more than double the salary" of the current Real Madrid players, something which could create tension behind closed doors.
The report claims that Bellingham, who has flourished since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has admitted to his Bernabeu teammates that he turned down more lucrative offers to join the Spanish giants.
Bellingham is said to have "told team-mates that he rejected better financial offers to join Real Madrid last summer" and "it is likely Mbappe would have to follow a similar path".
Manchester City and Liverpool were both strongly linked with Bellingham before his move to the Bernabeu, with the details in The Athletic's report suggesting the two Premier League clubs offered him better terms than Real Madrid.
Bellingham appears to have made the right decision to join Madrid, having already scored 17 goals in just 21 games for his new club.
Time will tell if Mbappe chooses to make the same move.
