Kylian Mbappe agent confirms Liverpool transfer talks amid Mohamed Salah contract negotiations. Mbappe is likely to replace Mo Salah if Salah leaves next summer
A fascinating report has emerged from L’Equipe, suggesting that Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé was close to joining Liverpool in 2022. According to the publication, Mbappé had fallen out with Paris Saint-Germain shortly after signing a new deal with the club in the summer of 2022. As a result, PSG asked Mbappé to find a new club, and he reportedly returned with offers from Real Madrid and Liverpool.
The report claims that Mbappé had already agreed to a short-term contract with Liverpool, but the deal ultimately fell through. It’s intriguing to consider how things might have played out if Mbappé had indeed joined Liverpool in 2022.
One major obstacle would have been the transfer fee, with PSG reportedly seeking €200 million for Mbappé’s services. While Liverpool did spend heavily that summer, splashing out €127 million on Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo, it’s unclear whether they would have been willing or able to meet PSG’s valuation.
Furthermore, Mbappé’s wages would have been a significant burden for Liverpool, with the French striker reportedly earning €56 million per year. It’s likely that Liverpool would have had to stretch their finances to the limit to accommodate Mbappé’s salary demands.
The report also suggests that Mbappé’s plan was to join Liverpool for a short period before moving to Real Madrid. However, it’s unclear whether Real Madrid would have been willing to pay a similar fee to the €200 million Liverpool would have needed to pay for Mbappé in 2022.
Ultimately, Liverpool may have found themselves in a similar situation to PSG, with Mbappé content to run down his contract and join Real Madrid for free. While having Mbappé in their team for one or two seasons would have been a major coup for Liverpool, it would have also put immense strain on the club’s finances.
It’s fascinating to consider how things might have played out if Mbappé had joined Liverpool in 2022. However, it’s clear that the deal would have presented significant challenges for the club, both financially and in terms of squad planning.
