Mbappé created a sensation at the UNFP Trophies ceremony on Sunday night, using his acceptance speech for the Ligue 1 Conforama Player of the Season award (he also won the Young Player of the Season award, for a third year running) to announce his desire for more responsibility - be it at PSG or another club.

"It’s a very important moment for me - I have come to a turning point in my career," said the 20-year-old, whose 32 Ligue 1 Conforama goals this season make him the most prolific Frenchman in France's top flight Philippe Gondet in 1965-66. "I have discovered a lot here, and I feel it is maybe the moment to have more responsibility. I hope that can perhaps be at Paris Saint-Germain, that would be a great pleasure. Or maybe elsewhere with a new project."

Bombshell

This hint at an exit from the freshly crowned back-to-back Ligue 1 Conforama champions sparked an instant furore, with speculation about who could fork out the not inconsiderable €250m release clause in his current contract, which runs through to 2022.

Doubtless the likes of Real Madrid, whose coach Zinedine Zidane is rebuilding the squad and has made no secret of his admiration of Mbappé, would be interested, but Paris Saint-Germain released a statement on Monday that scotched any suggestion of a departure - at least in the short term.

"Very strong links have connected Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé for the last two years and this shared adventure will continue next season," began the statement posted on the Twitter page of the club, who are now reportedly in talks with Mbappé to extend his deal through to 2023, likely with a revised salary for the global superstar. "With a common ambition to mark the history of European football and PSG's 50th anniversary, this is the moment we've been waiting for to pull together and write a fantastic new page in the history of our club, with each major actor doing their part - while always working for the team."

The proof...

It now remains to be seen how the capital club will go about reinforcing their squad over the summer and whether coach Thomas Tuchel opts to build his team around the Frenchman - as he has done in the injury absences of Neymar and Edinson Cavani in the second half of the current campaign - next season.