Paris St-Germain (PSG) is prepared to offload Kylian Mbappe this summer instead of risking losing him on a free transfer next year, as the French forward has informed the club that he will not be renewing his contract.

Mbappe's current deal is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season, with an option for an additional year.

Mbappe was given a deadline of 31 July to communicate his decision on renewing until 2025. After months of negotiations, the 24-year-old sent a letter to PSG stating his intention not to extend his contract. While this move could be seen as a negotiating tactic, PSG is determined not to let Mbappe depart without receiving a transfer fee.

The club is displeased that the letter was leaked to the media before they had the opportunity to review it, as they are in the process of reevaluating their team-building strategy after years of acquiring star players without a clear coherent plan.

Unless PSG receives assurances regarding Mbappe's future intentions, they are willing to sell him, which would undoubtedly attract the attention of Europe's top clubs.

Real Madrid has long been admirers of the Frenchman, and Mbappe rejected a move to the Bernabeu last year in favor of staying at PSG. The recent departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia has left Real Madrid in need of a striker, although Tottenham's Harry Kane was initially believed to be their primary target.

Since joining PSG in 2017, initially on loan from Monaco before a €180 million permanent move, Mbappe has amassed an impressive record of 212 goals in 260 games. He has also scored 38 goals in 68 appearances for the French national team, including a memorable hat-trick in last year's final in Qatar, where France fell to Argentina in a penalty shootout.

Mbappe has been Ligue 1's top scorer for the past five seasons and has secured five league titles during his six seasons at PSG. However, PSG's campaign in 2022-23 concluded with only the Ligue 1 title, as they once again fell short of winning the coveted Champions League, exiting the tournament in the last-16 stage against Bayern Munich.

Mbappe would be the second high-profile forward to depart the Parc des Princes this summer, following Lionel Messi's departure at the end of his two-year contract to join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.

Additionally, there have been rumors linking Neymar, the third member of PSG's superstar frontline last season, with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

Arsenal's pursuit of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is reaching a critical stage as the clubs are nearing an agreement on the transfer fee, which is expected to exceed £100m if certain performance-related clauses are met.

West Ham has come to terms with the fact that they will lose Rice, and Arsenal is prepared to break their transfer record to make him the most expensive player in the club's history.

While a formal bid is yet to be submitted, negotiations between the two clubs are progressing smoothly, instilling confidence that the deal will be finalized in the near future.

Rice has been Arsenal's primary target, and personal terms should pose no obstacles. The Gunners are moving swiftly to ensure a seamless transfer and have been willing to pay around £90m for the 24-year-old midfielder.

However, West Ham is eager to maximize their earnings and has requested additional add-ons that would elevate the total fee beyond £100m. Currently, Arsenal's transfer record stands at £72m, the amount paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019.

Sources suggest that the likelihood of a rival club vying for the signature of West Ham's captain is diminishing. Although Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Manchester United have shown interest in Rice, Arsenal has emerged as the frontrunner in their pursuit, particularly as they explore options to offload Pépé and Cédric Soares.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta holds great admiration for the England international and is determined to bolster his squad with Rice's presence. Arteta believes that Rice's skills will be instrumental in Arsenal's pursuit of another Premier League title.

To accommodate the midfielder, Arteta is open to letting Granit Xhaka join Bayer Leverkusen. Furthermore, Arsenal is considering a bid for Brighton midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who is also a target for Chelsea, and they are exploring the possibility of signing Manchester City's Ilkay Gündogan on a free transfer.

Rice, an admirer of Arteta's style of play, has rejected West Ham's attempts to keep him at the club. West Ham's largest shareholder, David Sullivan, disclosed last week that the player declined a contract extension worth £200,000 per week. Rice ended his tenure with West Ham on a high note, leading the team to victory against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

As West Ham begins to search for potential replacements, they have shown interest in Ajax's Edson Álvarez, Fulham's João Palhinha, and Southampton's James Ward-Prowse.