26 August 2023 , 05:00
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Former Chelsea star Florent Malouda says the club are "not ready" to sign Kylian Mbappe, despite the forward being put up for sale by PSG.
Mbappe has refused to extend his contract and will leave PSG on a free transfer next summer unless they can sell him. Real Madrid are the frontrunners to sign Mbappe, while a host of other clubs have been linked with the Frenchman including Chelsea.
However, Malouda believes the "timing is not right" for Mbappe to join Chelsea as they are "two or three years" away from getting "back on top". The Blues endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign last season and are rebuilding under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, having offloaded 13 senior players and made seven new signings this summer.
"To see Mbappe wear a Chelsea shirt would be a dream but they are not ready, as the West Ham game proved," Malouda told Betway. "We are not the club we were.
"When you see the level and expectation around Mbappe, I think the timing is not right. I don't think he sees Chelsea as an option now. There is so much pressure and expectation around him winning individual prizes and club trophies, the timing is not right.
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"But maybe in two or three years if Chelsea manage to get back on top and in the Champions League then maybe we can discuss Mbappe to Chelsea. But at the moment it makes no sense.
"But if he one day does come to England, I hope he chooses Stamford Bridge. I think Mbappe is the best player in the world. He's still developing too and he wants to achieve greatness.
Florent Malouda has given his thoughts on the possibility of Kylian Mbappe joining Chelsea (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)"I'd go Mbappe, then [Lionel] Messi because he is still playing for Argentina. Then Erling Haaland because of the season he had for City. I would pick those three players [as the best in the world]."
Malouda also gave his verdict on Kai Havertz's move from Chelsea to Arsenal, claiming the 24-year-old may one day return to Stamford Bridge. "It was necessary and a solution for Chelsea and Arsenal for Havertz to go to the Emirates," he said.
"He won the Champions League but he seemed to be unhappy with a lot of talk about his position. I wish him all the best at Arsenal but I don't think Chelsea will have regrets. Maybe he could come back to Chelsea in a few years, but I think there will be no regrets and he did a great job at Chelsea."