Real Madrid have now reportedly handed Kylian Mbappe a hard deadline by which to sign for them, while Paris Saint-Germain are said to have two "weapons" in their bid to counter his potential exit.
Many believe Los Blancos could finally get their man at the end of this season after several years of chasing the elusive French superstar.
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Mbappe's current deal at the Parc des Princes is due to expire in June 2024, thus allowing Real to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement in January should the two parties finally reach common ground.
Prior to the start of the 2023/24 campaign, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was frozen out the French team's preseason tour after refusing to sign a contract extension until June 2025.
However, the Ligue 1 giants later had a change of heart and reinstated the player to their squad after some undisclosed discussions between the club and Mbappe's camp.
Real's stance on the matter is said to remain firm, with the Spanish giants reportedly insisting on only signing the 24-year-old as a free agent following a number of disappointments in previous transfer windows.
In fact, according to AS, Los Blancos have set Mbappe a deadline to agree to terms on a contract with them, said to be 15 days after the January transfer window opens.
PSG, however, do not plan on giving up on their prized star just yet, with it claimed the Parisians have two "weapons" they plan on using to convince Mbappe to sign a renewal.
Per the abovementioned Spanish publication, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is planning to use the 2024 Olympics in Paris as one of the tools to persuade the forward to extend his stay in Paris.
The marksman has often revealed his desire play for his country at the Games, and the event is set to kick off in July 2024, a month after his current deal expires.
The second negotiation tactic is said to be Ligue 1's all-time goalscoring record, with Mbappe currently fifth on that list with 179 strikes.
The division's highest scorer remains Delio Onnis, who netted 299 times in France's top flight.
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For the Les Bleus star to eclipse this record, he would likely need to spend at least another three to four seasons at PSG.
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