Kylian Mbappe’s future is the subject of intense speculation - and not for the first time.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, who only signed a new deal in May, wants to leave the club having been left unimpressed with transfers and his role, according to reports in France.
Prior to signing a new contract, the 23-year-old was linked with a host of clubs and looked highly likely to join Real Madrid. Yet the Parisian club were able to tie him down to an extraordinary contract as they succeeded in their efforts to keep Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi together until the 2022 World Cup.
But with fresh claims he wants a new challenge, the door has opened to clubs who previously believed they had missed out on the chance to sign the ex-Monaco superstar. That includes, of course, previous front-runners Real Madrid but also the likes of Liverpool, who are known admirers of Mbappe.
Mbappe was close to heading to Anfield before joining PSG from Monaco back in 2017 - and L’Equipe claimed previously that he held a two-hour meeting with Reds owner John W Henry on his private jet.
They reported that Henry attempted to win over Mbappe and his family in early 2017 by flying his private jet to Monaco and inviting them on board. They are said to have flown over the bay of Nice and its surroundings for two hours as they discussed his future before the Reds eventually missed out.
The support of Nike, Mbappe and Liverpool’s major sponsors, could give them an increased chance of landing the striker if he decides to move on.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is a known admirer of Mbappe, although he has previously insisted they could not afford a move for the striker.
Speaking before Liverpool faced PSG back in 2018, Klopp told RMC Sport: "I love him, to be honest. What a player he is and a nice lad as well, so he's a really good kid. What a player, what a player.
"Everyone knows him since he was 16, 17, when he impressed in Monaco's youth teams, and I saw videos of him when he was 17 and he destroyed defensive lines as he is doing now.
"He's at an unbelievable level of consistency at that age. He's an outstanding player, that's clear, but he can deliver, deliver and deliver, which shows he's really good educated boy and he knows what he is doing.”
When speculation ramped up surrounding Mbappe back in early 2021, Reds legend Jamie Carragher admitted he believed at the time Liverpool had a realistic chance of making the blockbuster signing.
"I'm not joking," Carragher told CBS Sports when asked why he felt the Reds had a realistic chance of signing Mbappe.
"It was based on the fact that Liverpool thought they had a decent chance of getting Mbappe when he was at Monaco. I know Jurgen Klopp had spoken to him then and I’m sure other clubs had at that time.
"When Liverpool were in the Champions League final and won the Champions League a couple of years ago, I think anyone watching Liverpool there with Jurgen Klopp and the support of Anfield, if you’re ever gonna go to a club in England before you go to Real Madrid…
"Because I think he will, guaranteed, play for Real Madrid at some stage in his career but I’d always feel that maybe Liverpool is that perfect destination for a player like that before you make that next step.”
