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Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim has hinted that highly-rated youngster Kylian Mbappe could leave before the close of the transfer window if an offer big enough arrives.
The French champions have already lost many of the young stars that helped them to the domestic title and into the Champions League semi-finals last season.
And after watching Ligue 1 rivals PSG smash the world record with their £200m signing of Neymar from Barcelona on Thursday, Jardim conceded that it is "not always possible" to keep hold of the best players.
PSG's probable starting XI with NeymarShow all 11 1 /11PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Goalkeeper – Kevin Trapp Kevin Trapp joined PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt for around £8.5million in 2015. The German kept 16 clean sheets in his second in France.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Right-back – Dani Alves Dani Alves considered joining Manchester City and Chelsea before completing a move to the French capital on a free transfer after being released by Juventus.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Centre-back – Marquinhos Marquinho’s £27million move to PSG from Roma made him the then third most expensive teenager in world football. He joined to partner international college Thiago Silva.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Centre-back – Thiago Silva PSG’s big money spending started with Thiago Silva who was bought for around £33million just 12 days after agreeing a contract extension with AC Milan. Silva captains the Brazilian national team and has 63 caps.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Left-back – Layvin Kurzawa The 24-year-old may only have seven France caps to his name, but there was a reason why PSG were so determined to raid Monaco two years ago to bring him to the Parc des Princes. He has helped ease the departure of Lucas Digne, as well as the transition of replacing Maxwell in the starting line-up.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Midfield – Marco Verratti Marco Verratti has been at PSG since 2012 and has been compared to Andrea Pirlo. The Italian has been increasingly linked with a move to Barcelona but the PSG hierarchy are determined to keep hold of him.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Midfield – Blaise Matuidi Blaise Matuidi has been a key player for PSG for a long time and has worked his way to becoming an integral part of the French national setup. Matuidi is a strong tackler and a powerful box-to-box midfielder.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Midfield – Julian Draxler Julian Draxler may have to adopt a deeper role at PSG if he is to continue playing in the first team following Neymar’s arrival. The German joined PSG in January and played on the left-wing in most matches.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Right-wing – Angel Di Maria A player which defines Louis van Gaal’s time at Manchester United, Angel Di Maria did not live up to the bill when he joined United for £59.7million, the highest fee paid by an English team at the time. He has since found his feet in France and looks more like the high-rated player that was sold by Real Madrid.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Striker – Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani joined PSG for an eye-watering €63million from Napoli. The Uruguayan scores for fun in domestic matches but struggles to take the same kind of chances in the Champions League.
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PSG's probable starting XI with Neymar Left-wing – Neymar Neymar’s move from Barcelona could redefine the transfer market. The reported £200million smashes any previous records as PSG aggressively pursue Champions League glory. Estimated cost in transfer fees: £434,000,000
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With Europe's biggest clubs still sniffing around remaining stars like Mbappe, Thomas Lemar and Fabinho, the manager admitted they may not be Monaco players by the start of September, as much as he would like to keep them.
“It’s important to keep all of the players who were important last season at the club," Jardim said.
"But down the years it has been shown that it is not always possible to keep hold of your players and you know how our project works.
"Therefore, our objective is to work with the players that are still here when the transfer window closes.”
Mbappe has endured a quiet pre-season while at the centre of a transfer saga involving the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal.
But Jardim has backed the 18-year-old to come good once again.
"He hasn’t scored in pre-season but he’s working hard to turn things around," Jardim added.
"It’s not just him but all the young players who were here last season and who had such a great season.
"Fabinho, Lemar, Kylian… Fabinho and Lemar are slightly older and maybe a bit more mature but Kylian has been working well.
"They know the most important thing is what happens on the pitch.”
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