Transfer Centre

Jurgen Klopp plays down Liverpool's chances of signing Kylian Mbappe

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 31 July 2023

Klopp plays down Liverpool's chances of signing Mbappe

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that he does not expect the Premier League giants to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe this summer.

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he 'laughs' when reading reports that Liverpool are allegedly trying to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

Liverpool have already made a statement in the transfer market this summer, securing deals for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai respectively.

While the Merseyside giants are known to be in the market for at least one defender and another midfielder, a striker may also be on the agenda for the right price.

That stance comes at the same time as Mbappe being heavily linked with a wide array of clubs, a consequence of his desire to leave PSG at the end of his contract next year.

In response, PSG want to sell the France international before the end of August or, at the very least, negotiate a loan agreement that suits various parties.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on July 30, 2023 © Reuters

That has allegedly brought Liverpool into the equation, Mbappe known to be an admirer of the club and potentially more open to a switch to Anfield than other Premier League teams.

However, Klopp has played down the recent talk, with the German insisting that Liverpool will only sign the 2018 World Cup winner if club officials are negotiating a deal in secret.

Klopp told Sky Sport Deutschland: "We laugh about it. 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.

"But 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."

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring on April 21, 2023 © Reuters

PSG allegedly feel that Mbappe has already agreed to link up with Real Madrid as a free agent in 2024, with Los Blancos currently not in a position to pay big money for the 24-year-old.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal were prepared to pay a world-record £259m to sign Mbappe, only for the versatile attacker to refuse to discuss a switch to Saudi Arabia.

Chelsea have also allegedly been encouraged to enter the race for Mbappe, the Blues now being managed by former PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino.

As it stands, Mbappe is not being considered for selection by PSG with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi only wanting players that are committed to the Ligue 1 champions.