Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman cannot see a situation whereby Kylian Mbappe opts for an Anfield move.
The PSG forward has been subject to transfer speculation for well over 12 months as his contract situation remains unresolved in the French capital.
Mbappe will become a free agent in the summer and is yet to agree fresh terms with Mauricio Pochettino's side ahead of this scheduled exit date.
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Real Madrid came close to agreeing a January move for the 23-year-old, though talks broke down between the two sides and a transfer failed to materialise.
Liverpool have often been mentioned in the discussion of Mbappe's next step, though McManaman can only see the France international choosing one club as his next destination.
"Everybody you speak to in Madrid, and every person you speak to in France, says Kylian Mbappé is going to join Real Madrid," he told horseracing.net.
"It’s just a matter of getting their Champions League tie out of the way. Of course he could join Liverpool but the fact that you’d have to pay him £1million a week, I just don’t think it’s going to happen.
"Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world at the moment. I know Mo [Salah]’s had a great season. [Robert]Lewandowski has too. But when you look at the heir apparent to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Mbappé’s the one you’d pick, because of his age and his dynamism.
"I’d love Liverpool to get him but I’m a realist. When I look at it, the only place I can see him turning up is at Real Madrid and I think the deal is probably already done.
"Liverpool aren't crying out for Kylian Mbappé, the way he plays and the position he plays," added McManaman.
"If they lose a couple of the centre-forwards, then yes. But I just can’t see it happening and they’ve just brought in Luis Díaz and they’ve now got five forwards. I just think it would be surreal if they went for another one."
Another player whose future has been debated of late is Liverpool's Sadio Mane.
The arrival of Luis Diaz has prompted questions over the long-term position of the Senegalese star, who has been linked with a potential move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Questioning the likelihood of such a move, McManaman added: "I doubt he would move and whether they’d [Liverpool] let him go is debatable.
"He’s only got 18 months left on his contract. Whether Real Madrid or Barcelona could afford him is also the question. Barcelona can’t afford him.
"I know Mane’s got 18 months left on his deal but it’d have to be over £60m, £70m, £80m. And after bringing [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and Ferran Torres in, they can’t afford him at the moment. They’ll have to wait until they’re back up to speed, have 100,000 fans back in the stadium and do a few more sponsorship deals before they can start bringing someone like Mane."
