Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool have ‘absolutely no chance’ of signing Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe was previously on the Reds’ radar in summer 2017 before sealing an eventual £160 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain following a successful loan.
Klopp met with members of the France international’s family during that period in an unsuccessful attempt to convince him to pursue a move to Anfield.
Speculation about Liverpool’s renewed interest in the striker has intensified over recent months with the ‘#Mbappe2020’ social media campaign going viral.
Their new kit deal with Nike, who also sponsor Mbappe, and the European champions’ lack of signings last summer have fuelled rumours of a bid.
But Klopp insists the price tag which PSG will command for the World Cup winner, 20, has ended any possibility of his side’s interest being revived.
“Buying this calibre of player is difficult,” said the Liverpool manager.
“I don’t see any club at the moment who can buy Kylian Mbappé from PSG.
“I don’t see any club, that is how it is. And we are involved in the clubs that cannot do it. It is as easy as that.
“OK, from a sporting point of view, there are not a lot of reasons to not sign him. What a player he is. But it is about the money of course.
“No chance. Absolutely no chance. Sorry for killing that story.”
Another player regularly linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months has been Jadon Sancho, who is excelling at Klopp’s former club Borussia Dortmund.
Although Klopp refused to discuss the England forward specifically, he believes that the current Premier League leaders are well-placed to attract its top targets.
He added: “I don’t think we struggle with convincing players.
“When you speak to a player you can feel it, this year, last year, even three years ago, you can see in the eyes of a player, I am not sure if honour is the right word, that it is good that we speak to them.
“The club is in a very good position. Image-wise, it maybe always was.
“But now I think it is easier to live the life of a Liverpool supporter and that means automatically being in a situation to sign the players you want to sign.”