AS the soccer season begins to wind down, the cogs in the transfer rumor machine inevitably begin to turn ahead of a summer window in which the world’s best players are predicted to move clubs.

Real Madrid — which endured the most defeats in a season since 1995-96 and is gearing up to spend hundreds of millions on a squad revamp — is reportedly the likely destination for the likes of Eden Hazard and Paul Pogba.

Another player reportedly to be top of Los Blancos’ shopping list is Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Following a disappointing end to the season that saw PSG eliminated from the Champions League, lose in the French Cup final and stutter over the line to win Ligue 1, a summer of uncertainty over the team’s future is the last thing it needs.

At Sunday’s UNFP (French Professional Footballers Association) Awards, Mbappe was named Ligue 1 Player of the Season but made no assurances that he would be playing in the same league next year.

“It’s a very important moment for me, I have come to a turning point in my career,” the 20-year-old said. “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.”

Mbappe earned the prize for an incredible personal season that saw him score 32 goals in 28 league games and net 40 in all competitions, overshadowing his teammate and the world’s most expensive player, Neymar, though the Brazilian did miss a chunk of the season due to injury.

He also retained the Young Player of the Season prize for the third straight year.

Last month, after PSG was crowned champion of Ligue 1 for the sixth time in seven seasons, the French club’s German coach Thomas Tuchel said Mbappe would remain at the club despite the speculation surrounding a possible transfer to Real Madrid.  (SD-Agencies)