Taking a look at the latest transfer rumors surrounding Monaco players following their exit from the Champions League.
Monaco have had a terrific season, both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. They were knocked out of the latter competition in the semifinals by Juventus on Tuesday, but not before winning fans across the world for their youthful exuberance and attacking style of play. The Juve loss will hurt, but Leonardo Jardim’s still have a three-point lead in Ligue 1 with a game in hand on second-place Paris Saint-Germain.
Unfortunately, the young squad will likely be picked apart with the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester United vying for the players services. Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy, to name only the most notable players, could all be leaving.
Chelsea, who have the Premier League title in their grasp, seem to be the favorite to sign Bakayako. The 22-year-old has caught the eye of several teams, but the Blues seem confident of bringing him in.
In addition to Bakayako, prized youngster Mbappe could find himself playing for Real Madrid next season. Los Blancos are keen to bring the French striker in to bolster their attack this summer. Mbappe has thrown fuel onto the fire with recent comments as well.
This kind of situation is all-too common, as teams built on young talent are forced to sell as soon as they approach the big time. To make matters worse, the same few teams always seem to be buying.
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There remains, despite the rumors, a possibility all of the players come back for another run. The core of the team is young, and Radamel Falcao has rediscovered his old form at the age of 31. If the core group returns, Monaco will be a very competitive team again next season, and they’ll only gain from their experiences in the Champions League this season.