Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe reacts after a goal then disallowed during the French L1 football match between Monaco (ASM) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Spanish news outlet El Nacional, via Sports Mole (h/t Liverpool Echo), Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe wants to play under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool amidst interest from the Anfield outfit. The youngster has been brilliant for the Parisians in the last four seasons but could be on the move next summer.
Mbappe was a world-beater during his AS Monaco days itself as he starred in the club’s road to the UEFA Champions League semi-final in the 2016/17 season. In the following season, he completed a mammoth move as he signed for PSG on a loan deal with an option to buy for £165million. The French club understandably activated the clause a year later, and the sensational forward has not stopped bagging the goals since.
Is it now time for the 2018 World Cup winner to make the move to England? And would this be a smart signing by Liverpool?
Since signing for the French giants in 2017, Mbappe has gone on to score 139 goals and provide a further 72 assists in just 189 games across all competitions. The Paris-based club has managed to win three out of the last four Ligue 1 titles, and the 22-year-old has played a huge role in doing so. Moreover, he was highly influential in helping them reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2020. Not a lot has changed this season as the youngster has got his club off to a flyer in the league by contributing to 12 goals in as many games this season.
The quality is certainly there, and it is just an advantage for Jurgen Klopp and co that the striker already plays in a 4-3-3 formation at the Parc des Princes. The Reds operate similarly and have done so ever since the German arrived from Signal Iduna Park in 2015.
Roberto Firmino has been the attacker in the central role for the Anfield outfit in the last half a decade, while Diogo Jota is also performing a stellar job in that position since joining last season.
But the pair only managed to score 18 league goals together across 55 appearances last season. Mohamed Salah himself had more goals in far lesser appearances. Additionally, Sadio Mane has faded over the last year and a half and is not as lethal in front of goal anymore.
Despite all of this, Liverpool have always gone deep into Cup competitions and have managed to actively compete for the Premier League title. If Mbappe does join them, it could turn them into favourites alongside a few clubs to win the biggest trophies in the land.
The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract at PSG and could leave on a free transfer next summer. In fact, if he does not agree to a new deal with the club by the end of this year, he could sort out a pre-contract in January itself. Thus, signing a player of the former Monaco man’s quality and potential for nothing would perhaps turn out to be the bargain of the decade.
However, a move to Merseyside was not always on the cards. Real Madrid looked to be his initial destination, but he is now unconvinced by Carlo Ancelotti’s project at the La Liga club.
The young superstar is thought to be willing to learn his trade under Klopp, and it could genuinely take him a far way in the Premier League. Moreover, Salah could also depart Anfield in the coming transfer windows after his contract expires in 2023, with a new deal yet to be finalized.
Thus, with Mbappe’s age and talent, he could become the main man at the Kop for years to come.
