Arsenal and Chelsea handed Kylian Mbappe transfer boost after £700m call amid 'open conversation'

Arsenal and Chelsea have been handed a potential boost to their hopes of signing Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. The France captain is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants in the summer once his contract expires.

Clubs outside of France are now eligible to begin pre-contract talks with the 25-year-old over a free transfer in the summer. PSG face losing their superstar for free after failing to tie Mbappe to a new contract.

Real Madrid have long been favourites to land the striker but manager Carlo Ancelotti has remained coy on his side's chances of signing the former Monaco man. The Premier League has also been mooted as a potential destination, as has Saudi Arabia.

At the end of the year, Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo revealed that the league were not going to shy away from making more blockbuster signings, insisting that Mbappe's case was an «open conversation». Speaking to Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol, he said: «It's an open conversation, but we don't know what he wants to do. Our position is very clear — any of these players know where we are.

»If there's any interest in being part of what we are trying to build now or for the future, you can't turn down an opportunity to see if Mbappe can join us. Kylian is someone I love as a player."

Now, a change in direction of the Saudi Pro League's methodology in the transfer market means a move for Mbappe could be off the cards for Middle East clubs. According to the Daily Mail, the cash-rich Pro League will increase the number of overseas players allowed from eight to 10 in the summer — but with a significant caveat.

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