For the second summer in a row,  Paris Saint-Germain and France  striker Kylian Mbappé is at the centre  of a high-profile transfer saga.

After Mbappé refused to extend his PSG deal, the club left him out of their Japan tour and have forced him to train with other out-of-favour players.

Due to run until 2024, the World  Cup winner’s current contract includes a €40m loyalty bonus which, in  theory, was triggered on 1 August.

Although Mbappé doesn’t plan to renew, he wants to be paid that amount in full as he has never publicly expressed a desire to leave PSG.

PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaïfi  is currently working with club  lawyers to find a way of avoiding paying the bonus to Mbappé.

The French champions have put the 24-year-old up for sale this summer, but he has rejected the only known  offer so far, from Saudis Al-Hilal.

PSG are threatening to bench Mbappé all next season if he doesn’t leave. With the Euros and Olympics coming up next summer, he needs to play.

PSG are determined to cash in: they don't want to lose him for free  in 2024. Chief suitors Real Madrid  are staying quiet for now, though. 

Meanwhile, the Parisians are preparing for life without Mbappé. Ousmane Dembélé is close to joining, and Randal Kolo Muani is also in their sights.

Real Madrid’s fanbase  is awash with theories about Mbappé's recent social-media posts. In this photo, for example, there are nine white lines.

He has also posted a photo of three  ‘9’ cards. Is he pointing to the number he’d wear at Madrid? What’s more, ‘999’ symbolises new beginnings.

With less than a month to go until the transfer window closes, Mbappé’s future remains up in the air. Will the saga be resolved before then?