French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain have dropped star forward Kylian Mbappe from their pre-season squad for a Japan tour as both parties battle it out over the player’s future, Peoples Gazette understands.

The 24-year-old had last month told the club that he is not planning to extend his current contract, which runs out next summer. This leaves PSG with no choice but to sell the player in the ongoing transfer window or lose him for free.

Mbappe has repeatedly said he has no intention of leaving Parc des Princes this summer, but the club is unwilling to lose its investment and subsequently informed the player weeks ago to either extend his contract before July 15 or prepare to leave this summer.

The decision to drop the player from the pre-season squad is in view of PSG’s preparations for life without Mbappe, as the club has now put the French forward up for sale and is willing to listen to offers.

PSG are said to have felt “betrayed” as the club believed Mbappe already has an agreement with Real Madrid to join the Los Blancos for free in 2024. In 2021, Madrid saw their €220 million bid for the player rejected, with the forward signing an extension.

Many clubs have also been linked with Mbappe, including Liverpool and Manchester United, but a deal with the Theatre of Dreams is deemed not feasible due to the club’s present financial constraints.

Also, multiple sources, including The Athletic, are reporting that teams in the Saudi Pro League have expressed interest in signing the player in what would be a world record transfer fee, but there is no indication from the player’s camp that the forward is interested in the move.

They said Saudi deal-makers are ready to sanction a move for Mbappe to the Middle Eastern country, even if it is just for one season and then join Real Madrid, which has been the player’s ultimate priority for a long time.