Mbappé's Liverpool Near Miss
Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool's elaborate, secret push to sign Kylian Mbappé.
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Key Points
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Liverpool's recruitment push involved a discreet flight path, reportedly flying from Liverpool to Blackpool and then Nice, with Mbappé's family boarding a private jet described as having five rooms and a circle-flight to avoid being seen.
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There was talk of a €200 million bid for Mbappé, supported by around 16 months of reconnaissance on him during his Monaco years, with rival PSG and Real Madrid offers making it difficult for Liverpool to compete.
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Mbappé ultimately joined PSG on a loan deal before the transfer was completed, with subsequent reporting of a permanent fee around £165 million.
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Klopp indicated in the same discussions that Liverpool were pursuing three players in that window, not just Mbappé.
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The remarks were made while Klopp was a Magenta TV pundit covering a World Cup match—in particular, the France vs Morocco quarter-final—adding a World Cup broadcast context to the interview.
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool came agonisingly close to signing Kylian Mbappé in 2017 — flying the teenager's family on a private jet and wining and dining them in an elaborate recruitment operation that ultimately failed. BBC reported that Klopp called it the most expensive non-transfer Liverpool ever made.
Mbappé, then a teenage sensation at Monaco, chose Paris Saint-Germain instead — joining on an initial loan before a permanent deal worth around £165 million was completed. The move launched one of football's great careers. Klopp's candid account, made while working as a pundit for Magenta TV, shows just how different that career could have looked.
The Secret Jet, the Circle Flight, and the Family Dinner
Liverpool's recruitment operation was built around secrecy. According to BBC, the club arranged a private jet to fly Mbappé's family from Nice to meet with Liverpool's representatives. The jet reportedly had five rooms. To avoid detection, the plane flew a circle route so the family could not be seen boarding or arriving.
Klopp described a lavish meeting held in the Monaco and southern France area. The club pulled out all the stops — fine food, a luxury setting, and a personal pitch from the manager himself. Yahoo Sports reported that Klopp spoke directly with the Mbappé family during the meeting, with the player's mother said to have been impressed by Liverpool's approach.
16 Months of Scouting and a €200 Million Price Tag
Liverpool's interest in Mbappé was not a last-minute move. BBC reported that the club spent around 16 months scouting him during his time at Monaco. By 2017, Mbappé had helped Monaco win Ligue 1 and reach the Champions League semi-finals. Liverpool knew exactly who they were chasing.
The price was a serious barrier. Reports put Liverpool's potential bid in the region of €200 million. That was an enormous sum. But PSG and Real Madrid were also in the race, and both clubs had deeper financial firepower. Liverpool simply could not match what PSG eventually put on the table. Klopp noted that Liverpool were also pursuing two other players in that same transfer window.
Klopp's World Cup Confessional on Live TV
Klopp made the revelations during a live broadcast for Magenta TV, a German sports channel. He was covering the France vs Morocco World Cup quarter-final match. With Mbappé on screen starring for France, Klopp opened up about just how close Liverpool came to signing him. Head Topics noted Klopp called the whole operation extraordinary in its ambition.
The candid TV moment gave fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at elite football recruitment. Klopp, no longer bound by his Liverpool duties, spoke freely. His account painted a picture of a club that dreamed big — and nearly pulled off one of the greatest signings in Premier League history.
What Losing Mbappé Meant for Liverpool's Future
Mbappé went on to become a global superstar. He won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France at just 19 years old. He scored over 250 goals for PSG and later joined Real Madrid. Liverpool, meanwhile, rebuilt their attack with Mohamed Salah — signed for £36.9 million in 2017 — who became one of the Premier League's greatest ever players.
The contrast is striking. Liverpool lost Mbappé but found a different path to success, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups under Klopp. Still, as Yahoo Sports noted, the Mbappé story stands as the ultimate 'what if' of Klopp's Anfield era — a once-in-a-generation talent who very nearly wore red.
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