Jurgen Klopp explains Liverpool's Kylian Mbappe problem as Real Madrid make move
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has outlined the financial obstacles that have likely scuppered the club's hopes of making a shock move for Kylian Mbappe.
The future of the 24-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he expressed his desire to leave France at the end of next season. However, furious at the prospect of losing the player they paid £166 million for on a free, the Ligue 1 champions have instead opted to try and sell him this summer.
PSG bosses were left fuming though after Mbappe refused to talk to Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal, despite their world record £259million bid being accepted. It now leaves Real Madrid as the clear frontrunners, with many in the French capital believing the forward already has an agreement in place to join them in 2024.
Unsurprisingly, there is understood to be Premier League interest, with Liverpool among those in the frame. Mirror Football exclusively reported that the Reds had made an enquiry over signing Mbappe on a season-long loan deal. The 2018 World Cup winner has made no secret of his admiration for the club and manager Klopp, while his mother, Fayza Lamari, is a big Liverpool fan.
But the German boss has moved to suggest that any approach for Mbappe would be extremely difficult - temporary or permanent - with any club hoping to sign him, needing to take on his massive salary. He also suggested that if Anfield bosses were lining up a move for the PSG star, he hadn't been made aware.
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“We laugh about it," he told Sky Germany. "I can say that I think he’s a really good player, but the financial conditions don’t suit us at all. I wouldn’t like to ruin the story now, but as far as I know, there’s nothing to it."
Addressing the possibility of a move being made without him being consulted, he added: "It’s possible that someone else from the club is preparing something and wants to surprise me, but that hasn’t happened in the eight years that I’ve been here. That would be the first time.”
Kylian Mbappe has spoken very highly of both Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Kylian Mbappe play his football next season? Comment below.
Klopp's transfer plans will instead centre around trying to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The Saints have already rejected Liverpool's initial £38 million offer for 19-year-old Belgian, but are now bracing themselves for a second improved offer.
The midfielder was one of the few bright spots in Southampton's dismal 2022/23 campaign, which saw them relegated from the Premier League. And efforts to bring him to Anfield have been accelerated by the departure of club captain Jordan Henderson to Saudi side Al-Ettifaq.
Liverpool have already spent around £100m with the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, but Klopp has insisted that more signings will be on the way.
"There are so many things to do," he said last week. The transfer window is open. If my day would have 28 hours at the moment it would not be a problem - I could fill them easily!
"Still three-and-a-half weeks until the first game of the season. A few things have to happen before then, definitely, transfer market-wise as well. That is clear now. And it will happen. New players have to come in. We will have a good team."
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