5 of the highest reported transfer bids that were rejected in 2016

#3 Kylian Mbappe to Manchester City

Kylian Mbappe (R) was a subject of a bid even without any senior experience

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City were adamant to sign a then-17-year-old Kylian Mbappe from AS Monaco last summer. The teenager was yet to string together 10 senior appearances for the club and City were bidding silly money – a testament to the kind of rare talent he possesses.

Reports claimed that Manchester City went as high as €40 million to sign Mbappe last summer and after being told that the bid was to be turned down did they move on to sign their current young striker Gabriel Jesus.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City were the four leading candidates to sign Mbappe in the summer. Now, however, with his explosive turn of form and his rising maturity, clubs will need to bid in excess of double of what the Citizens did just to get into the game.