Premier League clubs bracing for pay rise demands after £259m

Premier League clubs fear Al-Hilal’s £259m Kylian Mbappe bid will spark huge pay rise demands after PSG star was offered £3m-a-week salary by Saudi club

  • Mbappe is the subject of a staggering offer from Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal 
  • Premier League teams fear the bid could have a knock-on effect in the top flight 
  • But insiders say the league ‘are relaxed’ about Saudi clubs signing big players 

Premier League clubs are bracing themselves for a raft of pay-rise demands from top players should Kylian Mbappe seal a £259million switch to the Saudi Pro League.

Executives at the ‘Big Six’ fear the France striker’s potential move to Al Hilal, on a rumoured salary of more than £3m a week, would be a ‘disrupter’ and lead to their stars threatening to follow him to Saudi Arabia unless they are given huge increases.

The salaries being offered in Saudi Arabia dwarf those paid in the Premier League. Erling Haaland is this country’s top earner, picking up a package of close to £900,000 a week at Treble winners Manchester City.

However, should Mbappe, 24, make the switch Premier League officials believe it would be a game-changer. 

Premier League clubs are preparing for a raft of expensive contract demands following Al-Hilal’s mammoth bid for Kylian Mbappe

PSG accepted the Saudi Arabian side’s £259million bid for Mbappe following much controversy around his contract situation, with his deal set to expire next year 

Premier League insiders say the top six clubs are fearing more demands from their players who could point towards Mbappe’s potential move to try and increase their wages 

One insider explained: ‘So far most of those who have gone to Saudi have been close to their final deal. But if Mbappe, one of the best players in the world, goes during his peak years, all bets are off.

‘It would not be a surprise if the top players pointed to him and said they would also go unless they could get the same money — or at least a massive rise — to stay.

‘The Premier League seem relaxed about it. But if we start to see a drain of the best talent, that attitude would quickly change the next time television rights are up for grabs.’

Paris Saint-Germain gave Mbappe permission to speak to Al Hilal on Monday. 

But there is a widespread view in the French capital that the player will spurn the offer, using it instead to squeeze more money out of Real Madrid, which is his preferred destination.

But it is thought that Mbappe is set to snub the offer from the Saudi Pro League side and instead join Carlo Ancelotti (pictured) at Real Madrid


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