Could Liverpool ever realistically attract Kylian Mbappé to the Premier League?

Let’s set the scene. It’s summer 2019. Liverpool are European champions. A crescendo to one of the most amazing seasons in the club’s history. Red and white confetti litter the streets of the city entwined with the acrylic smell of pyrotechnics. The world appears to be at Jürgen Klopp’s fingertips. Some 500 miles away in the centre of France, Kylian Mbappé has just completed his sophomore year at Paris Saint-Germain, collecting another domestic double but frustrated at another underwhelming Champions League campaign — his side eliminated by Manchester United in dramatic circumstances.

Having snubbed their advances as a Monaco player, rumours were emerging that Mbappé was once again interested in a move to Liverpool. They had all the pulling power imaginable, and social media images of recently departed marksman Daniel Sturridge snapping a picture with the French star only added fuel to the fire. Liverpool would go on to sign Adrián and Harvey Elliott. Mbappé remained at the Parc des Princes. 

It was a sad state of affairs from a Liverpool point of view. Thiago is perhaps the only instance of Klopp attracting a ready-made star to Anfield and with their side continuing to age you wonder how much of a missed opportunity that summer proved to be. Ultimately, they still won the league and had it not been for a collapse in the final weeks of last season, were in touching distance of a quadruple. Yet, you feel a marquee signing like Mbappé could be the difference maker in Klopp building a dynasty at Liverpool.

Neither Liverpool or Mbappé are where they want to be at this moment in time. Premier League betting odds suggested the Reds go could one better in their pursuit of another league title, but injuries and inconsistency leave them floating aimlessly in mid-table.

Mbappé, despite extending his contract in Paris, has tainted his relationship with a board that gave him unlimited power and money, and after the frosty summer of negotiations with Real Madrid, it looks as if Liverpool is his quickest escape route from the 16th arrondissement. He posted cynical messages regarding manager Christophe Galtier, using him in an unfavoured position of a lone centre-forward, and things are only going to get worse if he stays at PSG beyond next season.

It seems a pipe dream in reality for Liverpool. Klopp has never been the type of manager to splash big cash, especially the kind of lucrative money for Mbappé’s signature, and owners Fenway Sports Group have always valued developing their own superstars as opposed to hand-picking them. But it does look like a match made in heaven. 

Attitude aside, the 23-year-old is absolutely world class and what he brings as a forward to the Premier League would be so unique. Technical ability combined with the raw pace and physicality to take Liverpool’s attack into another stratosphere. And the Reds boss obviously rates him after chasing Mbappé earlier in his career. 

“We talked a little bit, but not too much. We talked a little bit,” the Frenchman said. “I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you will have to ask her!

“It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.”

Klopp himself spoke highly of Mbappé but again reinforced that Liverpool can’t financially pursue a player like that, to the disappointment of Reds fans.

“We of course like him, if we didn’t like him we’d have to question ourselves,” he said. “But we are not, we cannot, be part of these battles. There must be other clubs involved but that’s fine. He’s still a great player.”

The dream of Mohamed Salah wheeling away towards the Kop to embrace Mbappé will have to be put on ice for the time being. Only time will tell what his future holds as either part of PSG or leaving them, but for FSG to stretch their purse strings past their limits is simply unrealistic at this moment in time.