The waiting is finally over. The worst kept secret in world football has finally come out. Kylian Mbappe, barring another remarkable U-turn, is leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season.

Many thought Mbappe was heading to Real Madrid in 2022, only for the Frenchman to stun the world of football, and Madrid president Florentino Perez, by committing to a new deal in Paris.

It was inevitable, however, that the 24-year-old would eventually leave PSG, with his leaving date the only box that needed to be filled in. Mbappe has now internally communicated to Nasser Al-Khelaifi his intention to go this summer, with the finer details of his exit to now be worked on in the coming months.

The question for many is where do PSG go from here. 90min understands that a list of potential replacements has already been drawn up, which includes Marcus Rashford and Victor Osimhen, but there’s no doubt that replacing Mbappe’s quality is a borderline impossible task.

PSG intend to look to youth, ending their own mini-Galactico era, and are likely to put all their eggs in the baskets of Warren Zaire-Emery, Xavi Simons and Bradley Barcola, but even if they develop into some of the world’s best players, will they ever have the same stroke and impact as a generational talent like Mbappe?

The realistic answer is no, and there’s probably only four players in world football who’d have the clout to even be in the conversation…

How do you replace a generational talent?

With another one of course!

In terms of shirt-selling superstardom, goalscoring record, and big game-winning experience, there’s no better replacement for Mbappe than Manchester City’s cyborg Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian is the only other genuine megastar forward in the prime of his career – one who is likely to score hundreds and hundreds of goals if hes stays fit.

It’s an impossible signing, but PSG can dream at least.

With Mbappe appearing a dead cert to rock up at Real Madrid, logic would suggest that somebody is going to need to make way.

Could that somebody be the phonomenal talent that is Vinicius Junior? You’d be surprised if that was the call that was made, but stranger things have happened in the world of football. Nobody saw Neymar ditching Barcelona for PSG, remember?

Vinicius is another player capable of winning any game singlehandedly, and he brings with him an aura that few others possess. Would he be a great fit in Paris? 1 million per cent.

This time last year mentioning Lautaro Martinez as a ‘player good enough to replace Kylian Mbappe’ would’ve led to my Twitter (X) mentions being filled with:

‘You’re an idiot’

‘Delete this post’

‘Ratio’d’

Now, however, perceptions of the Inter captain are a lot different. After inspiring his club to the UEFA Champions League final with brilliant performances in big games, Lautaro has become one of the very best forwards in the world.

His 19 goals in Serie A are bested by just two players across the whole of Europe – Mbappe and Harry Kane.

A short-term option?

Sure.

But if PSG are happy with filling the void left by Mbappe for two seasons while younger players they have on the books (Zaire-Emery, Kolo Muani and Barcola) hopefully develop into superstars in their own right, then a play for Salah makes sense.

With Jurgen Klopp opting to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, there’s every chance it will be a summer of transition on Merseyside. Salah has the same kind of stroke as Mbappe, in terms of marketability and worldwide perception, and certainly has the ability.

204 goals in the last seven seasons, at the very highest level, attests to that.