Kylian Mbappe has been encouraged to hold out for a move to Chelsea if he wants to test himself in the Premier League. The 24-year-old forward faces an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain, with his contract at Les Parc des Princes set to expire at the end of next season.
Last month, Mbappe confirmed his decision to not extend his stay in the French capital beyond 2024, casting great doubt over his future ahead of the summer transfer window. According to L’Equipe, PSG were left angered at the manner of the France international's public announcement and, therefore, they'll consider selling him rather than risk losing him for free in 12 months time.
Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Mbappe but, following the arrival of Jude Bellingham for a record-breaking fee, the Spanish giants might struggle to meet the French giants' asking price – which is thought to be as much as €200million (£171.6m), according to Marca.
With Los Blancos potentially short on cash, Florent Malouda has predicted Mbappe to sign a contract extension at PSG. Speaking to Genting Casino, the former Chelsea winger said: "This is about trying to put pressure on his club to give him a project that fulfil his ambitions.
"I don’t think that PSG will be surprised by his request and I also think that the story becomes much bigger in the media because the transfer window is open. He had the opportunity to go to Madrid and he extended his contract, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he found an agreement with PSG in the future. I would be very surprised if he left this summer."
A departure from Paris may be unlikely this summer, but if Mbappe wants to test himself in the English top-flight then he's been told to wait for Chelsea to come calling. Malouda added: "I think he will try the Premier League, but right now, I don’t see any team apart from Manchester City that would attract him.
"It is not the right time for him to come to the Premier League. He should wait for Chelsea to come back to the top level before he considers a move to England (laughs)."
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Mason Mount agreement, medical 'failed', James 'rejects' Arsenal
Then, when asked if Mbappe could be tempted to reunite with Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, Malouda said: "Possibly. Chelsea need to get back to where they should be with the right project and environment for players to flourish.
"With a player like Mbappé, you bring him in when all of the conditions are perfect. Haaland joining Manchester City is the perfect example.
"When he arrived, everything was ready for him. He was able to express his greatness straight away. Mbappé is on the same level and he needs to join a team with a system that is already working."