It has recently emerged that Liverpool came close to signing one of the biggest stars in world football, Kylian Mbappe, two years ago.
According to L’Equipe, the French forward had reportedly agreed terms on a potential short-term deal with the Reds in 2022, seeking an exit from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). However, the transfer collapsed due to a disagreement over the fee involved.
At the time, Mbappe was pushing for a move away from PSG and even requested to be left out of the club’s first Ligue 1 game of the 2022/23 season. Liverpool had offered a club-record £168.6 million for the striker, but PSG were demanding twice that amount, which proved to be a dealbreaker.
Instead, Mbappe eventually signed a two-year contract extension with PSG, which kept him in Paris until he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this year. Had the move to Liverpool materialised, it was reportedly with the understanding that Mbappe would ultimately move to Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe. Credit: Imago Images
Mbappe’s standing in world football is immense. At just 25 years old, he has already netted 286 goals at the club level and 48 for the French national team, including a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final. His influence extends beyond goal-scoring, as he’s also been hailed as a ‘fantastic leader’ by France manager Didier Deschamps, having captained his country for the past 18 months.
During the summer of 2022, when Mbappe was linked with Liverpool, the club instead strengthened their attack with the signing of Darwin Nunez, followed by Cody Gakpo midway through the next season. That season ended in disappointment for Liverpool, as they finished fifth in the Premier League, missing out on the Champions League.
With Mohamed Salah the only player to score more than 15 goals that season, Mbappe’s presence could have been the difference in securing a top-four finish. However, Liverpool ultimately decided that the staggering £300m+ fee PSG demanded was too much, even for a player of Mbappe’s calibre. Nonetheless, the Reds continue to boast a formidable attacking lineup admired by clubs worldwide.
